One Downstate; One Mission
By Office of the President | May 22, 2025
The Coney Island Amphitheater was filled with joy, reflection, and deep pride as we celebrated over 600 graduates from our five schools and colleges. Two inspiring ceremonies—held at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.—did more than close one academic chapter. They launched a new generation of leaders, healers, and changemakers into a world that urgently needs their talent and purpose.
The morning ceremony honored the College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, and School of Public Health graduates. The afternoon celebrated those from the College of Medicine and the School of Graduate Studies. Each gathering was a testament to our mission, our community, and the extraordinary resolve of this class.
I had the great privilege of addressing both audiences, reminding our graduates that they trained during a global health crisis, matured through a period of reckoning and unrest, and emerged with the insight and resilience to meet this moment with clarity and purpose. This class came of age in a time that has redefined how we teach, practice, and imagine healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in our systems. Racial injustice and public health disparities demanded bold confrontation and systemic change. Scientific progress continues to accelerate, even as trust in institutions is tested.
Our graduates are ready to live in a changing world and to lead in it. I reminded them that “Artificial intelligence is reshaping diagnostics. Telemedicine is transforming access. Yet none of these innovations can replace the human touch you bring—your empathy, ethics, and enduring lived experiences. These are your superpowers.” In a landscape of rapid innovation and disruption, our students’ ability to lead with compassion and integrity will be what sets them apart.
Rather than retreat, our students stepped forward with courage, empathy, and resolve. At Downstate, they learned to deliver care grounded in evidence and equity. They prepared to treat, listen, lead, and advocate.
Behind every graduate stood a robust network—families, friends, faculty, and mentors—whose love and support carried them through. I was moved by the cheers that filled the amphitheater because they represented something greater than individual achievement; they represented the strength of the community. They spoke of the shared sacrifices and collective pride of those who helped make this day possible.
The bonds built at Downstate between classmates, across disciplines, and among faculty will continue to shape these graduates long after they leave our campus. These relationships form the foundation of the physician, nurse, scientist, therapist, and public health leader each student will become.
The voices of our student speakers added unforgettable resonance to the day. They are the voices that moved us.
In the morning ceremony, Adanma Ngadi, graduate from the College of Nursing and Student Council President, spoke elegantly about how authentic leadership begins at the bedside—with humility and compassion. Matthew Zaharenios, who earned the Doctor of Physical Therapy, celebrated the unity and diversity of the Class of 2025 and the lessons learned from serving Brooklyn. Aliye Mosaad, graduate of the Doctor of Public Health program, told a story of personal transformation reflecting the journey of many peers who found belonging and voice through their work at Downstate.
In the afternoon, Joya Ahmad, class president of the College of Medicine, delivered a speech. As a queer woman
of color and daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, she spoke of Downstate as a place
that defied her fears and exceeded her hopes. “I found people who lifted each other,”
she said, “…people who chose kindness and courage in a system that often demands neither.”
Her challenge to her peers was powerful: Let your medical training be a tool for treatment,
yes—but also a force for justice.
Commencement 2025 reflected the heart and dedication of our entire campus community and could not be accomplished without the work of this team. I sincerely thank Jeffrey Putman, Ed.D., Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs; R. Schuyler Hooke, Director, Department of Student Life for his precise coordination and planning, and the entire Division of Student Affairs.
I extend a special thanks to our esteemed leadership team, including F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., FACS (College of Medicine); Kitaw Demissie, M.D., Ph.D., (School of Public Health); David Christini, Ph.D., (School of Graduate Studies); Lori Escallier, Ph.D., RN, (College of Nursing); Allen N. Lewis, Ph.D., CRC, (School of Health Professions); Pascal James Imperato, M.D., MPH, MACP, Senior Vice President & Chief Academic Officer; and Patricia A. Winston, DNP, MS, RN, Interim Chief Executive Officer, University Hospital at Downstate.
These graduates will serve in hospitals, labs, clinics, public health departments, and policy arenas. They leave us with the tools to care and the courage to speak up in rooms that need their presence.
Our graduates enter a dynamic, unpredictable world, ready to carry the mission forward.
Congratulations to each member of the Class of 2025. I am proud of each of you. Go forward with purpose—and with Downstate pride.
College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, and School of Public Health Photos
College of Medicine and the School of Graduate Studies Photos