FAQs

Where is the medical school?

The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences building is on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, at 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203. The school is located directly above the Allen-Medical Campus rail station.

Is there a Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus shuttle?

An “On Demand” free shuttle service operates from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. It is operated through Kaleida Health, but they have made it available to UB faculty, staff and students. It will take you anywhere on the Medical Campus and another two blocks off the BNMC.

Phone number: (716) 859-5442.

Can I bike to the medical school?

Yes, there is bike parking on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, including indoor bike storage at the 854 Ellicott Ramp (space for 50 bikes) and the 589 Ellicott-Virginia Bike Storage facility (space for 15 bikes). The alley that runs through the medical school has several bike racks. To find the best bike parking for your needs, visit:

Register your bicycle through BikeIndex.org. Once your bike is listed, in the chance that it is stolen, the details will be made available to the bike shops, police departments, pawn shops and other organizations that use the stolen.bikeindex.org data to help fight bike theft. 

Don’t have a bike or would prefer not to use the one you have? Reddy Bikeshare has a UB student pass. The price is $15/year with no additional cost per minute. If you are an Independent Health member you may be eligible for a 20 percent discount off the annual pass. Contact them at info@reddybikeshare.com to receive a promo code to use during registration. There are several Reddy Bikeshare hubs close to the medical campus including ones on Ellicott and High and several on Allen Street.

GBNRTC.org has a Buffalo cycling map where you can search for bicycle lanes, bike racks, bike shops and more. Students who are biking from the Elmwood Village are encouraged to consider Linwood Avenue (a great biking road in Buffalo with wide lanes on both sides of the street), Richmond Avenue or Delaware Avenue, as they have wide bike paths to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

How do I enter the building?

There are three entrances into the new medical school. Visitors must enter the building at the main entrance on the corner of Main Street and High Street. There is a direct, accessible connection from the NFTA to this entrance.

There is a second entrance if you turn left when exiting the rail station to the alley that runs through the building (Allen and Main).

A third entrance is located at the back of the building on Washington Street.

Only students and staff or faculty members working at the Jacobs School of Medicine are permitted to use these entrances.

Visitors coming to the main entrance are required to buzz in and speak to security to enter the building. Once inside, all visitors are required to stop at one of the security desks to sign in before proceeding to their destination. The person they are meeting must also meet them at this entrance.

Is there security?

The building is accessible with your UB Card or by buzzing in with security. Security guards are at all entrances.

Students are expected to show their UB Card to security after entering the building.

Students who do not have their UB Card with them (and anyone without authorized swipe card access) are required to buzz in at the door, sign in with the security desk before proceeding to their destination, and sign out when they leave.

Students expecting guests must meet their guest at the security desk when they enter.

The security guard on duty can be reached at (716) 829-2352.

Security should only be called in case of emergency (such as suspicious behavior from an individual in the school).

This number should not be called to alert security of a guest entering the school, a catering order arriving, etc.

In the case of a medical emergency, potential threat, or violent act that occurs, 911 should also be called immediately.

How do I reserve a room?

  1. Check the downtown calendar to determine which rooms are currently available.
  2. Complete the required information on the Room Request website. Select the room on the pull-down list next to room requested (downtown). If you need both sides of the room (for example: 2213A&B) be sure to list this in “other room.” If you have specific requests, please write them in the “additional notes” section. Also, indicate who will need swipe card access in the "additional notes" section if the room does not give swipe card access to all students.
  3. The facilities office will let you know through email whether or not the room request was accepted.
  4. Confirm that your room reservation is now listed on the Downtown Calendar.

Where can I eat on or near the medical campus?

Inside the School

  • Corner Cafe The University at Buffalo has a small dining facility on the second floor of the medical school, just outside of the main auditoriums where students are taking classes. Food available includes coffee, baked goods, salads, pizza, sandwiches and soups. Hours vary depending on the year.
  • Vending machines There are multiple vending machines located on the first and second floor of the medical school.

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Buildings and Hospitals

  • Conventus Cafe — There is a cafe across the street from the new medical school in the Conventus building. Items include coffee, tea, soups, baked goods, sandwiches and more. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Joe’s Deli at Oishei Children’s Hospital — Located on the second floor of the hospital, the Buffalo-based deli known for their award-winning specialty sandwiches, soups and wraps will provide healthy, homemade options from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
  • Tim Hortons at Oishei Children’s Hospital — Located on the first floor, it features flavored coffees, juice, muffins, bagels, sandwiches, cookies and more. The cafe is open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily.
  • Cafeteria at Buffalo General Medical Center Located on the first floor in Section “B,” the cafeteria offers hot entrees, salad bar, soups, sandwiches, pizza, assorted beverages, desserts and daily specials. It is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.
  • Tim Hortons at Buffalo General Medical Center Located on the first floor close to the Main Lobby, it features flavored coffees, juice, muffins, bagels, sandwiches, cookies and more, 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
  • Carlton’s Grill at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Located inside the hotel across from Buffalo General Medical Center. Hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
  • Collision Cafe — Located inside the Innovation Center Lobby (640 Ellicott St), rotating pop-up vendors serve between 11:30 a.m.  to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cafe includes healthy vegetarian and vegan food. Vendors include Lime House, Green Eats, Ms.Judi’s International Cravings Food Truck (parked outside of IC), Ashker’s, Go Veggies and the Grove.
  • Sunflower Cafe at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Located on the second floor of the hospital near the lobby, this is the largest of all of the hospital cafeterias on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. They offer a broad selection of items including a full salad bar, chef’s specials and breakfast made to order. Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. (Please note: The cafeteria closes daily from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.)
  • SPoT Coffee at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center — SPoT Coffee has a location in the lobby of the Roswell Park. The SPoT Coffee Express Cafe offers specialty coffees, soups, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, wraps, cookies, muffins and other pastries, including Paula’s Donuts, brought in fresh daily. Gluten-free wraps and rolls are also on the menu. Open daily from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
  • Food trucks — There are several food trucks parked along the grassy area of Carlton and High Street (behind the medical school) around lunchtime throughout the summer. Schedule and food truck vendor varies.

Surrounding Area

There are a large number of places to eat along Main Street, Allentown and surrounding areas close to the new medical school. Below are just a few recommendations:

  • Caffeeology, 23 Allen St. Sandwiches, bagels, coffee, tea
  • Bill’s Food Mart, 32 Allen St. — Subs, burgers, chicken fingers, pizza to go
  • Anchor Bar, 1047 Main St. — Home of the Original Chicken Wing
  • Coco, 888 Main St. — Brunch, lunch, dinner and global entrees
  • Cafe 59, 62 Allen St. — Vegetarian and non-vegetarian items
  • Colter Bay, 561 Delaware Ave. — Burgers, sandwiches, salads
  • Ulrich’s Tavern, 674 Ellicott St. Buffalo’s oldest tavern
  • Towne, 186 Allen St. Breakfast and Greek fare
  • Fat Bob’s Smokehouse, 41 Virginia Place  Ribs, chicken, macaroni and cheese
  • Roly Poly Sandwich, 846 Main St. — Wraps and more
  • Expo Market, 617 Main St. — Contemporary food market

Why is my UB Card so important?

You need your UB Card to enter the medical school building, pass security after entering, enter offices inside the medical school and to enter the surrounding hospitals for academic purposes or when you wish to use their dining facilities.

We highly recommend you put your ID card on a lanyard and wear it throughout the day so that it is easily accessible at all times. If you lose your UB Card, you need to contact the UB Card Office.

Incoming students should expect to receive their ID card at orientation if they submitted their picture on time.

Where are offices located?

First Floor

  • Entrances and security desks
  • Office of Student and Academic Affairs, Medical Education
  • Office of Medical Admissions
  • Active Learning Center
  • Classrooms
  • Student group learning rooms
  • Conference room (Brain Museum)
  • Mail room
  • Vending machines

Second Floor

  • Lecture halls and classrooms
  • Student study rooms
  • Student group learning rooms
  • Corner Cafe
  • Vending machines

Third Floor

  • Department of Physiology
  • Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • Stem Cell Culture and Analysis facility
  • Conference rooms
  • Open labs
  • Research labs and faculty offices

Fourth Floor

  • Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences
  • Department of Biochemistry
  • Conference rooms
  • Open labs
  • Research labs and faculty offices

Fifth Floor

  • Department of Microbiology
  • Conference rooms
  • Open labs
  • Research labs and faculty offices

Sixth Floor

  • Office of the dean, vice presidnt for health sciences
  • Office of Research and Graduate Education
  • Behling Simulation Center
  • Clinical Competency Center
  • Computer lab
  • Office of Medical Computing
  • Office of Communications
  • Office of Resource Management
  • Conference rooms

Seventh Floor

  • Office of Inclusion and Cultural Enhancement
  • Gross anatomy lab
  • Surgical simulation center
  • SUNY Office of General Counsel
  • Office of Graduate Medical Education
  • Hematology
  • Robotic surgery
  • Engineering
  • Conference rooms

All floors have bathroom facilities and most floors have open lounge areas by windows with seating.

Are there showers I can use in the building?

Yes, showers are on the first floor, next to the Allen Street alleyway entrance.

You need your UB Card to enter the restroom. Inside, there are two showers that are available for student, staff and faculty use.

Is there a lactation room in the building?

The lactation room is on the sixth floor, in room 6142. This room has a chair and a small table.

This room can be accessed within the 6130 office suite and is typically open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

Is there a counseling center?

Yes, counseling services are available in the school.

Is there a meditation or prayer space?

There is a space at Oishei Children’s Hospital, across the street from the medical school, which students are encouraged to use for prayer and meditation. The room is located on the fifth floor (Family and Child Support Services Floor), room J-0532. No reservations are required. The room will be unlocked.

You will need your UB Card to gain access to the hospital. You do not need to ask for permission to use the room with security. Students only need to show an ID badge and then head directly there.

Where is the closest ATM or bank?

KeyBank is located directly across the street from the new medical school at Conventus. The ATM is located outside.