A Message from President Riley
By Office of the President | Sep 23, 2025
Together in Remembrance, Discovery, and Service
Dear Downstate Community,
This October, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University reflects on the challenges and progress shaping our service, education, and care mission.
Last month, we marked the anniversary of September 11, honoring those we lost and the resilience of all who carry forward the spirit of service and solidarity. That remembrance strengthens our commitment to educate healers, advance discovery, and serve our community with compassion and equity.
We began the academic year by welcoming our newest medical students at the White Coat Ceremony. This tradition signifies their formal entrance into the medical profession and pledge of compassionate, patient care. Each coat on their shoulders carries the legacy of Downstate physicians who have long served with distinction in Brooklyn and beyond.
As we acknowledge these beginnings, we also recognize the critical observances of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These observances call us to action to stand with survivors, advocate for prevention, and continue advancing research and care. In this spirit, Randall Barbour, Ph.D. and the Optical Tomography Group, are pioneering functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This wearable imaging tool promises safer, more accessible detection and monitoring of breast cancer, especially in underserved settings where the need is greatest.
Our faculty are also leading national conversations on health equity. Panos Kougias, M.D., MSc, FACS; Sherene Sharath, Ph.D., MPH, and colleagues recently published a landmark study in the Annals of Surgery, uncovering an alarming rise in major lower extremity amputations among younger patients. Their findings underscore the need to strengthen prevention and treatment strategies in communities like Central Brooklyn, where the burden of chronic disease is most severe.
We are making substantial investments in our facilities as well. The $10 million modernization of University Hospital’s air handling systems enhances patient safety, improves staff well-being, and positions us for continued growth. At the same time, integrating Classroom Services into the Office of Communications & Marketing demonstrates our commitment to providing modern, accessible learning environments for our students, faculty, and staff.
Together, these milestones reflect that we are a health sciences university that honors resilience, educates the next generation, advances discovery, strengthens our facilities, and helps to #KeepCareClose for the communities we serve.
Tags: Presidents Office