A Message from President Riley

By Office of the President | Feb 3, 2026

Reflections on Service, Mentorship, and Responsibility

Dear Downstate Community,

Here at Downstate, our work is guided by discovery, mentorship, and service, always rooted in responsibility to the communities we serve. Over the past month, I was reminded of how deeply intertwined these values are through scientific progress, support for future leaders, and moments of reflection that bring our mission into focus.

I am proud of our faculty’s contribution to a recent Nature publication that addresses long-standing diversity gaps in genetic research on schizophrenia. By centering ancestrally diverse populations, this work strengthens scientific understanding. It advances equity, underscoring the importance of inclusive research in improving health for all.

That same commitment was evident at the 2026 STEMM Mentorship Symposium, which brought together leaders, researchers, educators, and trainees from across the country. Created as a space to rethink mentorship during a time of change, the symposium encouraged thoughtful conversation and practical guidance for sustaining scientific careers.

I was especially grateful for the keynote address by Sherilynn Black, Ph.D., Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement at Duke University, whose insights challenged us to examine how mentorship structures can better support scientists at every stage. We were also pleased to present the 2026 Excellence in Research Mentorship Award to Marlene Camacho-Rivera, Sc.D., M.S., MPH, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Assistant Professor for her sustained commitment to mentoring and developing emerging scholars.

Last month also brought a moment of loss for our community. We mourn the passing of Gerald Whitehead Deas, M.D., MPH, MS, Hon. Sc.D., Hon. D.H.L., a proud alumnus and longtime member of the Downstate faculty. Dr. Deas believed deeply that medicine and public health belong in everyday life and everyday conversation. His clarity, creativity, and respect for lived experience continue to shape how we think about trust, prevention, and equity.

As we enter Black History Month, we will honor Dr. Deas with a special tribute recognizing his lasting contributions and reaffirming why this month remains essential to building a more inclusive world. It is a time to remember history and reflect on how institutions show up for the communities they serve.

Those reflections were reinforced during last week’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service in Healthcare Justice conversation, Health Equity as Civil Rights: Policy, Power, and Institutional Responsibility. I was grateful to be joined by Basil Smikle Jr., Ph.D., Kathryn T. Hall, Ph.D., MPH, and Arva Rice for a thoughtful discussion on how policy, power, and institutional behavior shape health outcomes. The conversation echoed Dr. King’s belief that justice in health requires action and service, not intention alone.

Across these moments of research, mentorship, remembrance, and dialogue, I saw a shared commitment to care that is both excellent and human. Thank you for the work you do every day to ensure that our science, our teaching, and our care remain grounded in equity, dignity, and humanity.