More than 12,000 Years of Dedication to Downstate
By Office of the President | Oct 7, 2025
Twelve thousand years of service—an extraordinary measure of loyalty, skill, and heart—were celebrated at Downstate between 2023 and 2025. Throughout this period, 608 colleagues were honored for their collective contributions to the strength and spirit of an institution that educates, heals, and uplifts the Brooklyn community.
Excellence at Downstate takes many forms. It lives in the lecture halls, at the patient’s bedside, in the research labs, and in the essential work of clerks, technicians, environmental services staff, and countless others whose quiet dedication sustains our mission. On September 30, the Downstate Honors Ceremony recognized these contributions and the people who make excellence possible in education, research, and clinical care.
These recognitions also strengthen our sense of community. They bring us together to honor the breadth of our workforce, from those who mentor the next generation of health professionals to those who ensure our campus runs seamlessly every day. Together, these awards lift our collective spirit and reaffirm our shared responsibility to serve as both anchor and advocate for the diverse communities that depend on us. Among them, Brian J. Anziska, MB.ChB, Richard D. Feinman, Ph.D., and Sarah L. Marshall, DNP, RN, achieved the extraordinary milestone of 50 years or more of service. Their careers stand as enduring examples of loyalty, expertise, and commitment.
The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are among the most prestigious recognitions in the SUNY system. They include two categories: Excellence in the Classified Service, which honors those whose daily service and support work exemplify dedication, and Excellence in the Professional Service, which highlights staff who model leadership and achievement in advancing the University’s mission.
Recipients of the Classified Service Award for 2023–2024 included Zakiyyah Dupass, known for her compassion in the Transplant Department; Adrian McRae, who has guided patients toward independence for over two decades in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit; and Charlene Murray, whose reliability and initiative distinguished her in Environmental Services.
For 2024–2025, the Classified Service award was presented to Kershel Albert, RN, recognized for her patient-centered care and support of fellow nurses; James Beazer, a U.S. Air Force veteran whose leadership in Plant Utilities set a standard before his retirement; and Robert Turner, whose 33 years in Security Services reflect unmatched professionalism and dedication.
The Professional Service Award was presented in 2024 to Kino Williams, PsyD, a long-serving administrator whose leadership in Radiology and Psychiatry has strengthened programs across campus, and in 2025 to Tina Adjei-Bosompem, MPH, whose work on our Middle States reaccreditation built critical systems for organizing and presenting institutional evidence.
The Downstate Resiliency Awards spotlight qualities that define our community at its best—advocacy, innovation, leadership, and teamwork. These honors recognize students, staff, and teams who uphold high ethical standards and professionalism; who turn obstacles into solutions for patients, learners, and colleagues; and who elevate outcomes by improving access, experience, quality, and operational effectiveness. They celebrate the everyday resilience that keeps care close for Brooklyn.
This year’s Advocate Award recipients, Jennifer Brown and Maria Jimenez, were recognized for their commitment to students and patients. The Innovator Award was presented to Mary Mallappallil, M.D., who enhanced continuing medical education in nephrology, and James Hayes, who assisted students in securing timely aid despite FAFSA delays. The Leader Award was presented to Robert Foronjy, M.D., Ph.D., for advancing lung research and training, and to Srikanth Adidam Venkata, M.D., for strengthening neurology education.
The Synergist Award was presented to the University Hospital at Downstate Care Management Team and the School of Health Professions chapter of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), both of which were commended for teamwork that embodies Downstate’s mission.
Together, these honorees prove that Downstate’s strength lies in the people who keep care close to home. Whether in classrooms, clinics, labs, or support services, their work adds up not only in years of service but in lives changed, opportunities created, and communities sustained.
We thank the many colleagues and departments that made the Honors Awards Ceremony possible, as well as the numerous faculty, staff, and student volunteers whose planning and support brought this celebration to life.
Check out the Complete program and watch the video
Tags: Awards, Faculty / Staff