A Message from President Riley

By Office of the President | Apr 8, 2025

Five Years After the Apex of COVID-19: Honoring Our Legacy, Reaffirming Our Mission

 

Dear Downstate Community,

SUNY Downstate stood at the heart of a global crisis in early 2020 that changed the world and tested every fiber of our humanity. As the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives, devastated communities, and claimed millions of lives around the globe, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) was designated a COVID-only hospital. It was one of the few institutions in the country exclusively caring for patients with the virus. We did so with unmatched courage, commitment, and compassion.

We mark this milestone five years later, knowing Downstate stood at the pandemic’s epicenter in Brooklyn and New York City. Our physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, environmental services teams, researchers, educators, and other healthcare professionals and workers across various departments rose to the challenge daily—offering comfort to the sick, standing in for grieving families, and delivering hope in the face of despair. These moments deserve acknowledgment and honor.

You were the steady hands and strong hearts that carried this institution and our Brooklyn community through the darkest days. When fear and uncertainty peaked, you met the moment with resolve, saving lives, preserving dignity, and holding fast to our mission. As our hospital professionals and staff led the frontlines, our students and educators transformed medical, nursing, and health professions education in real time—pivoting to virtual platforms, reimagining training, and ensuring continuity of care and learning. 

As we reflect on the last five years with profound gratitude for the resilience of our healthcare workers, the adaptability of our students, faculty, and staff, and the strength of the communities we serve, holding fast to the ideals of advancing health equity, compassionate care, and medical excellence. 

The pandemic tested us but did not break us. We remember those we lost, celebrate those who served and remain steadfast in our mission to #KeepCareClose to those who need it most.

Let us carry forward the pandemic’s lasting lessons—the power of unity, the necessity of compassion, and the unshakable importance of health equity—and champion our mission with renewed purpose, unwavering resolve, and an unrelenting commitment to a healthier, more just future for everyone.