Shout Outs
By Office of the President | May 22, 2025
Downstate Students Earn SUNY’s Highest Student Honor
We proudly celebrates Faisal Elali and Jennifer Wang, two exceptional students from the College of Medicine, who have been awarded the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence—the most prestigious student recognition in the SUNY system. This award honors individuals with remarkable academic achievement, leadership, campus involvement, and community service.
Faisal Elali, a first-generation Lebanese American, has built an impressive legacy at Downstate by combining clinical passion with community advocacy. His leadership at the Brooklyn Free Clinic and Downstate’s Asylum Clinic Chapter reflects his deep commitment to justice and access in healthcare. Beyond the clinic walls, Faisal has served as a student ambassador, tutor, research team leader, and coordinator—roles that highlight both his intellectual strength and generous mentorship. His scholarly work includes multiple nationally and internationally recognized research publications and presentations.
Jennifer Wang, a fourth-year medical student stands out for her focus on health equity and inclusion in dermatology. A member of the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies, Jennifer has led research on light-based therapies and clinical trial representation for skin of color—efforts that challenge systemic gaps in care. She also invests in the next generation through mentoring, volunteer service at the Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic, and guidance for high school and fellow medical students.
Faisal and Jennifer represent the very best of Downstate—intelligent, compassionate, and driven to make a difference. Their recognition by the SUNY Chancellor affirms what we at Downstate already know: that our students don’t just excel—they lead, uplift, and redefine what it means to serve.
Congratulations to both of you for this extraordinary and well-deserved honor.
COM Students Receive Alumni Research Scholarships
The Alumni Association–College of Medicine has named four recipients of the 2025–2026 Alumni Fund Full-Year Research Scholarship. Each student will receive funding to conduct full-time research for one academic year.
Ten applications were reviewed by a selection committee chaired by Richard Sadvosky, M.D. (’74), with members Riccardo Bianchi, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Foundations of Medicine and Associate Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Jenny Libien, M.D., Ph.D. (’01), Chair of Pathology.
College of Medicine Alumni Association Full-Year Research Scholarship winners (l tor): Favour Ononogbu-Uche; LeeAnn Marcello; and Dario Fucich. Alex La Poche (not pictured).
Scholarship recipients:
- LeeAnn Marcello (First Place)
Project: Restoring Symmetric Facial Movement Through Electrical Recording and Stimulation
Lab: Kollmar & Stewart Labs, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University - Favour Ononogbu-Uche (First Runner-Up, Tie)
Project: Enhancing Precision and Recovery in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Evaluating Awake Spine Surgery and Fluoroscopy-Based Instrument Tracking System
Lab: Abd-El-Barr Lab, Duke Department of Neurosurgery - Dario Fucich (First Runner-Up, Tie)
Project: Using Shear Wave Elastography to Track Postoperative Bone-Tendon Healing Following Upper Extremity Tendon Repair Surgery
Lab: NYU Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery - Alex La Poche (First Runner-Up, Tie)
Project: Characterizing the Acute Phase Response in Pediatric Neuromuscular Scoliosis Patients Undergoing Spine Fusion Surgery
Lab: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Pediatric Orthopedics
Since 2002, the Alumni Fund has provided awards of up to $60,000 to support full-time student research, prioritizing projects at Downstate or its affiliates.
Congratulations to all awardees!
OT Program Engages National Audience at AOTA INSPIRE Conference
During Occupational Therapy Month, Downstate’s Occupational Therapy Program faculty and staff represented at the 2025 AOTA INSPIRE Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, hosted by the American Occupational Therapy Association. This year’s theme, “Occupational Therapy: Inspiring Hope, Changing Lives,” brought together practitioners, researchers, and students nationwide to share ideas and advance the profession.
L to R: Anna Todd, Jamie Siegart
Students and faculty from Downstate presented original research, participated in national discussions, and strengthened connections across the OT community. Anna Todd and Jamie Siegart were selected for the AOTA Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy. This competitive program matches students with OT researchers for mentorship and research development. Their participation reflects a strong and growing interest in the research track within the program.
Faculty-led student research presentations addressed current challenges in OT education and practice:
- Emotional Intelligence Curriculum – Jasmin Thomas, OTD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, led a project exploring how emotional intelligence training can improve clinical skill transfer during fieldwork.
- Diversity and Inclusion in OT Textbooks – Efekona Nuwere, Ed.D., MPH, OTR/L, Program Chair, and student collaborators analyzed how race, gender, and disability are represented in OT educational materials.
- Return to Work Assessments – Nancy Kline, Ph.D., OTR/L, Assistant Professor, examined how neuropsychological and functional cognitive assessments can inform return-to-work decisions.
- Cultural Competency and Student Clubs – Dr. Kline and students studied how OT Club involvement supports the development of cultural competency among entry-level students.
Participation in the national conference highlights the program’s commitment to preparing students for clinical and research careers, while contributing to evolving conversations in the field. Downstate’s OT program continues to engage in research and education that responds to real-world needs and strengthens the profession.
Welcoming the 2024–25 Psi Tau Honor Society Inductees
On April 7, Downstate’s Psi Tau Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing welcomed its newest student and faculty inductees class. Held during the Spring 2025 semester—the culmination of the Academic Year 2024–2025—the ceremony honored those who exemplify excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.
Induction into Sigma is more than a one-day event. It marks a lasting milestone that reflects our nursing students' strength, the mentorship, and the caliber of Downstate’s College of Nursing. These honors remain relevant long after the ceremony ends.
Sarah L. Marshall, DNP, RN
Kathleen Bratby, Ed.D., RN
Lori Escallier, Ph.D., RN
Downstate’s Psi Tau Chapter launched in 2017 under Sarah L. Marshall, DNP, RN, and continues to thrive under current Chapter President Kathleen Bratby, Ed.D., RN, and College of Nursing Dean Lori Escallier, Ph.D., RN. The chapter has earned national recognition, including the Showcase of Chapter Excellence Award and the prestigious Key Award.
Sigma has 135,000 active members in more than 90 countries. Membership is by invitation and reflects academic achievement, professional integrity, and a commitment to advancing the nursing profession. It also opens doors to mentoring, leadership development, and continuing education, supporting nurses at every stage of their careers.
Congratulations to the Academic Year 2024–2025 inductees! We’re proud to welcome you into this accomplished and inspiring community.
View the full Induction Ceremony Program and list of student and faculty inductees.
School of Health Professions 2025 Convocation Ceremony
Congratulations to the School of Health Professions on a successful 2025 Convocation Ceremony, held May 8 in Alumni Auditorium. The event honored the accomplishments of 151 graduates across six programs: Diagnostic Medical Imaging, Health Informatics, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and the Physician Assistant program.
Dean Lewis, senior leadership, and SOHP Student Council representatives welcomed guests and celebrated the graduates’ academic and community contributions. The program included awards for clinical excellence, leadership, scholarship, service, and tributes to faculty and clinical preceptors.
Celebrating OT Scholarship and Achievement
Congratulations to the Occupational Therapy Program in the School of Health Professions on its 23rd Annual Master’s Project Day earlier this month. The event marked a significant milestone for the Class of 2025, who presented their capstone research projects to faculty, peers, family, and the campus community.
Led by Krystal Brewington, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM, the program also featured a keynote by alumna Lisa Raymond-Tolan, OTD, OTR/L (’07), who encouraged students to blend clinical work with ongoing inquiry and reflection.
The day concluded with the program’s third annual White Coat Ceremony—a meaningful rite of passage that marks students’ readiness to enter the field. The white coat symbolizes their transition from classroom learners to clinical practitioners, prepared to bring knowledge, compassion, and skill into real-world settings.
Strengthening Campus Safety Through
De-escalation Training
On April 22, members of Downstate University’s Police Department participated in a two-day Principles and Practice of De-escalation training held here on our campus. Instructors led the session from the Eastern Region De-escalation Training Center at the University of New Haven.
This nationally recognized program equips officers with advanced tools to manage high-stress encounters with calm and control, reinforcing our commitment to a safe, welcoming campus environment.
The National De-Escalation Training Center (NDTC) is the only Level Three de-escalation
training provider. This model builds on procedural justice and crisis intervention
by adding rapid personality identification. Certified by the International Association
of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) and approved by the
U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the NDTC
curriculum reflects the highest officer training and community engagement standards.
Thank you to our University Police officers for their dedication to continuous learning and leadership in campus safety.
Alishia Goodridge Honored for Community Impact
Congratulations to Alishia Goodridge, MBA, Assistant Vice President for Community and Government Relations, who was honored
at the “Let There Be Joy” event hosted by Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT).
She was among four trailblazing women honored for exceptional leadership, dedication
to uplifting others, and her ability to bring light, joy, and empowerment to every
space she enters—qualities that inspire positive change and foster a brighter future
for all.
Ms. Goodridge was celebrated for raising awareness about Downstate’s community programs, including those creating local youth career pathways. Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that empowers underserved youth across New York City through education, job training, and career development programs.
We proudly acknowledge Ms. Goodridge’s leadership and contributions to strengthening Downstate’s community partnerships.
Beyond the Degree Virtual Roundtable
The Health Informatics Students Association (HISA) hosted a virtual roundtable on April 17—Beyond the Degree: Roundtable on Informatics & Health Tech Careers—for students and faculty in the Health Informatics Program at the School of Health
Professions.
The event featured alums and other professionals working in nursing informatics, biostatistics, healthcare IT consulting, and agile project management. Panelists shared insights on career paths, industry trends, and the shift from clinical and non-clinical roles into health informatics leadership. The roundtable also supported professional networking and drew strong participation from the Downstate community.
Kudos to HISA for creating a meaningful forum for career exploration and connection! Events like this show the power of student initiatives at Downstate.