A Message from President Riley
By Office of the President | Oct 21, 2025
Steadfast in Service: Science, Equity, and the Public Good
Dear Downstate Community,
This month reaffirmed how deeply Downstate’s mission connects to the well-being of the people we serve. On October 8, I joined Congressmember Yvette Clarke’s Telephone Town Hall to discuss how the federal government shutdown is affecting healthcare across Brooklyn’s Ninth District. I had the opportunity to restate our foremost responsibility: protecting the public’s health through honesty, collaboration, and readiness.
I grounded the discussion in the experiences we have daily on our campus and in our clinics. While the shutdown has not yet disrupted operations, a prolonged impasse would bring financial strain. Downstate has already seen delays and losses in crucial research funding for projects in maternal health, racial-ethnic differences in drug response, and genetic risk factors for chronic disease, efforts that specifically touch Brooklyn families.
When asked about Medicaid, I explained that federal disruptions are creating administrative challenges. Added paperwork, new recertification hurdles, and outdated systems threaten to push eligible patients off the rolls because the process has failed them. That risk transcends policy and compromises people’s health and dignity.
What stayed with me most was the spirit of shared purpose. Joining Congressmember Clarke, Dr. Sandra Scott of One Brooklyn Health, Danielle Holahan of NY State of Health, and other leaders reaffirmed that in uncertain times, collaboration and candor remain our strongest tools. We must continue to speak openly about what continuity of care demands—and work together to ensure its achievement.
That same commitment to shared purpose runs throughout our campus. Our Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and School of Public Health are redefining maternal health by partnering directly with those most affected. Through the Women’s Health Community Advisory Board, community partners—including doulas, faith leaders, and advocates, help shape decisions, ensuring that clinical practices reflect lived experiences and community priorities.
The same spirit exists in the achievements of our faculty. Drs. Sabina Hirshfield and José Díaz recently received NIH grants to advance HIV prevention and diagnostics in underserved communities. Their work bridges the gap between technology and human connection, demonstrating that research is most effective when it reaches those who need it most.
That bond between science and service extends into our neighborhoods. Earlier this month, hundreds of students, clinicians, and community members came together for the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, embodying the spirit of prevention and partnership that defines our work in Brooklyn. Our Occupational Therapy students brought that same energy to P.S. 235, where they taught more than 500 children about backpack safety—showing how education extends far beyond the classroom and into the everyday lives of our neighbors.
As Hispanic Heritage Month drew to a close, I was inspired by the voices that filled our campus during the discussion, “Latino and Underserved Community Leadership in Public Service, Health, and Equity.” Led by Dr. Christina Guillen and joined by Dr. Marlene Camacho-Rivera, Dr. José Díaz, Elizabeth De León Bhargava, JD, and Kevin Garcia, the panel emphasized that advancing equity requires collaboration across housing, transportation, education, and healthcare. They reminded us that trust is the foundation of care and that honoring culture, language, and family must guide every encounter we have as a healthcare institution.
These moments of advocacy, discovery, and community demonstrate that Downstate is at its strongest when we stand together with others. Whether facing policy challenges or pursuing new scientific breakthroughs, our commitment to service and equity remains unwavering.
As we look ahead, I am optimistic. The challenges before us are real, but so is our resolve. Every study we conduct, every partnership we forge, and every patient we serve reaffirms that Downstate is not simply adapting to change; we are leading it.
Together, we will continue to protect the health of our communities, advance discovery that uplifts humanity, and ensure that care remains close, trusted, and equitable for all.