Right Reverend Monsignor James P. Cassidy, Ph.D., portrait is currently on display
Right Reverend Monsignor James P. Cassidy, Ph.D., was a respected and well-established priest of the Catholic Church who dedicated much of his life to healthcare. He worked closely with the New York Medical College for over two decades, as a board member and later as the college’s chancellor.
A portrait of Monsignor Cassidy is on display in the Sunshine Cottage Boardroom.
Birth: May 10, 1925
Death: October 14, 2015
Education:
B.A., St. Joseph’s Seminary and College, 1950
M.S., Fordham University, 1958
M.S., Fordham University, 1963
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Counseling, Fordham University, 1965
At New York Medical College:
Member, Board of Trustees 1972-1987
Chair of Long-Range Planning Committee, 1976-1987
Chancellor, 1987-1992
Right Reverend Msgr. James P. Cassidy, Ph.D. (1925-2015), was a well respected priest who worked closely with the New York Medical College in various roles and capacities. He took on leadership roles regularly to facilitate the functioning of the college.
Born in 1925, Msgr. Cassidy set on his religious path at a young age. After attending St. Joseph’s Seminary, he became ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He was a parish priest for many years, and during this time he conducted his post-doctoral training in clinical psychology, finishing his studies in 1964. His clinical psychology internship was at St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1965. He continued as a parish priest until he was appointed as papal chamberlain in 1968.
Msgr. Cassidy’s involvement with the New York Medical College began in 1972 when he joined the board of trustees. He worked on the board’s Long Range Planning Committee until 1987. During this time, he also worked as Director of the Department of Health and Hospitals of the Archdiocese of New York. Additionally, her served as the Chairman for the First World Congress of Catholic Hospitals and Health Care Institutions in 1973.
He left the New York Medical College’s Board in 1987 to take on the position of Chancellor of the college. He held that role until 1992. He worked with many notable figures during this time and maintained positions within the Catholic Church. He had started work as a consultant for the Pontifical Commission for Pastoral Care of Health Workers in the year prior, and he continued his consultancy.
Upon leaving his positions with the New York Medical College in 1992, he took on the role of Director of International Association of Catholic Health institutions at the Vatican. Between 1995 and 2005 he held many other roles, including Administrator at the Holy Spirit Church in Cortland Manor, staff psychologist and Director of Counseling at the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City, and more. At his 90th birthday celebration, Msgr. Cassidy was awarded the Grand Cross Pro Piis Meritis. He was respected for his extensive work for the church, healthcare and psychology even after his death in October of 2015.
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The New York Medical College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. See full non-discrimination statement with contact info.