A Message from President Riley
By Office of the President | Nov 18, 2025
Service, Gratitude, and the Privilege of Caring for Others
Dear Downstate Community,
As we approach Thanksgiving, I extend my warmest wishes to our Downstate community. This season invites us to pause and express gratitude for the people we serve, the colleagues we work with, and the mission we hold in common. I remain deeply thankful for the dedication, compassion, and excellence that define this institution.
I recently had the privilege of meeting and hearing Congressman James E. Clyburn share reflections from his new book, The First Eight. What stayed with me most was his lifelong commitment to serving the community, his
nation, and the greater good. His message was a powerful reminder that service is
a value and a responsibility that calls us to show up with purpose, humility, and
a willingness to lift others. That spirit of service sits at the heart of Downstate’s
work every single day.
We saw that commitment to service reflected on the national stage this month, when Dr. Panos Kougias, Chair of the Department of Surgery, presented Late-Breaking Science at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025, one of the most prominent platforms in cardiovascular medicine. His national, multi-site clinical trial, published simultaneously in JAMA, demonstrated that earlier blood transfusions after major surgery may reduce heart failure and arrhythmias in patients with preexisting heart disease. Much of this work was conducted across Veterans Affairs Medical Centers nationwide, underscoring our shared obligation to those who have worn our nation’s uniform.
Last week, as we honored Veterans Day, I was proud to stand alongside our Downstate veterans, bearing witness to their courage, resilience, and continued willingness to advance care for others. It was a deeply moving reminder of the weight and privilege of service. Their work reflects a powerful truth that after their military service ends, their contributions to the greater good continue. I am incredibly proud of the work of Dr. Kougias and his team, which uplifts our veterans and enhances the care provided nationwide.
As we enter this season of gratitude, I encourage everyone to turn their reflections into action, much like Dr. Marcia Edmond-Bucknor and Dr. Henry R. Paul, currently among many volunteers in Jamaica helping others recover following the hurricane. Let this Thanksgiving inspire a renewed commitment to service, whether through a kind act extended to a neighbor, time spent with a student or colleague, support offered to a patient, or a recommitment to the work that improves the lives of Brooklyn residents every day.
Service is gratitude in motion, and each of us has the power to shape a more compassionate, equitable community. It is through these acts of service that we continue to #KeepCareClose for the communities that trust us most.
May the coming weeks bring you rest, connection, and the encouragement needed to carry our mission forward with purpose and heart. Thank you for all you do for Downstate. I wish you and your loved ones a meaningful and restorative Thanksgiving.