A Message from President Riley
By Office of the President | Jan 20, 2026
A Legacy Lived Through Service, Justice, and Care
Dear Downstate Community,
As honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and are reminded that service is sustained through action, and not through rhetoric. Dr. King framed healthcare as a matter of justice, dignity as a shared obligation, and recognition as a moral responsibility owed to those who consistently serve their communities with care.
As we mark Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reaffirm that service, justice, and equity are inseparable from healthcare. Dr. King called on institutions to recognize the dignity of every individual and to act with moral clarity on behalf of the communities they serve. At Downstate, honoring that legacy means acknowledging the people and work that advance access, build trust, and deliver care grounded in respect and accountability. We reaffirm this promise to #KeepCareClose, our pledge to serve with purpose, remain connected to our communities, and ensure care is never distant or detached from those who need it most.
Across Downstate, we carry these principles in meaningful ways.
Dr. Riccardo Bianchi’s selection as an Olympic Torch Bearer and his return to his hometown of La Spezia speak to the power of discipline, endurance, and values passed down across generations. His lifelong commitment to wellness, education, and resilience reflects the kind of leadership Dr. King believed was essential to strengthening communities.
Downstate’s contributions to global child health research continue to deepen understanding of how the quality of nutrition shapes growth and long-term health. By demonstrating the critical role of protein quality in childhood development, this work connects scientific discovery to health equity. It provides evidence to inform public health policy, clinical practice, and interventions to improve outcomes for children in low-resource settings worldwide.
In graduate medical education, pediatric residents have demonstrated leadership by redesigning the journal club as a resident-led model that promotes inquiry, confidence, and clinical excellence. This approach prepares physicians to care for communities facing complex health challenges and limited access to specialty services.
Physician well-being remains a critical pillar of a functional healthcare system. Dr. Michael Myers’s recent publication, Physicians With Lived Experience, brings forward the voices of clinicians navigating their own mental health journeys, challenging stigma and strengthening the culture of care within the profession.
Mental health equity also remains central to Downstate’s mission through the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. For more than three decades, the Institute has partnered with communities to expand access, cultivate youth leadership, and address stigma through trusted, community-based engagement.
At Downstate, we answer Dr. King’s charge through the acknowledgement of service, recognizing impact, and remaining accountable to the communities we serve.