A Message from President Riley

By Office of the President | Jun 3, 2025

Bigger, Bolder, Closer to Home

Dear Downstate Community,

As we approach the summer months, I offer my deepest gratitude to each of you—our students, faculty, researchers, staff, and alums—for another year defined by determination, resilience, and a shared commitment to the health and future of our communities.

This spring marks five years since the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a milestone that invites both reflection and resolve. At Downstate, we remember the long shifts, the heartbreak, the breakthroughs, and the quiet acts of bravery that sustained this institution during one of the most profound global crises in living memory. That chapter challenged us deeply but also revealed our strengths. It reminded us that science and compassion, when held together, can not only heal but transform.

Today, we carry that spirit forward as we enter a new era of innovation and renewal. Across our research centers and clinical programs, Downstate continues to lead. Our teams are developing new ways to deliver care, from AI-assisted diagnostics to community-based health equity interventions. These are not abstract achievements. Rather, they are real-world advances that will shape outcomes for patients in Brooklyn and across the globe—proof that what happens here matters everywhere.

This year has also been one of institutional reflection. Our nation and world are shifting extraordinarily, and we at Downstate are preparing to grow with intention. There may be changes ahead; our compass remains steady. We are here to educate with excellence, to heal with purpose, and to lead with integrity. Every decision we make must advance the work of equity, discovery, and care.

To our students and staff, I challenge you to return from the summer hiatus not only rested but reawakened. Come back bigger in your thinking, bolder in your questions, and braver in your purpose. Step into the next academic year not as a continuation but as a new chapter—one where each of us is accountable for shaping the future we wish to see. Let your work be guided by humility, and let your leadership be defined not by perfection but by progress.

Downstate’s legacy is one of aspiration—rooted in service, strengthened by diversity, and driven by the belief that access to health and knowledge is a human right. Our commitment to #KeepCareClose is not just a campaign but a core expression of our mission: to bring excellence in care, research, and education to the very heart of the communities we serve. This is our collective pride and our enduring promise. Let us carry it forward with clarity, courage, and care.

Wishing you a restorative and inspiring summer season.

The President’s Bulletin will be on summer hiatus and resume publishing on September 9.