Shout Outs
By Office of the President | Feb 3, 2026
Our Castle Connolly 2026 Top Doctors #KeepCareClose in Brooklyn
We are proud to celebrate the 30 Downstate Health physicians recognized as Castle Connolly 2026 Top Doctors, an honor awarded to the top seven percent of practicing physicians nationwide. Selected
through peer nomination and rigorous review by a physician-led research team, these
clinicians represent the highest standards of clinical excellence, leadership, and
compassionate patient care.
This recognition affirms what our community knows well–that world-class care lives right here in Brooklyn.
Thank you to these outstanding physicians for your dedication to our patients, your commitment to excellence, and for helping us #KeepCareClose.
Please join us in congratulating our top doctors:
Ovadia Abulafia, M.D.
Sanjeev Agarwal, M.D.
Yaacov Anziska, M.D.
Michael Augenbraun, M.D.
David Biro, M.D.
Erdal Cavusoglu, M.D.
Inci Dersu, M.D.
James Deutsch, M.D.
Lisa Dresner, M.D.
Alan Feit, M.D.
Sharon Glick, M.D.
Arthur Grant, M.D.
Christina Guillen, M.D.
Rosemary Jackson, M.D.
Rauno Joks, M.D.
Panagiotis Kougias, M.D.
Jason Lazar, M.D.
Steven Levine, M.D.
Jonathan Marmur, M.D.
Steven Pavlakis, M.D.
Simon Rabinowitz, M.D.
Richard Rosenfeld, M.D.
Moro Salifu, M.D.
Alexander Schwartzman, M.D.
Edward Smith, M.D.
Arnold Strashun, M.D.
William Urban, M.D.
Maria-Anna Vastardi, M.D.
Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D.
Violetta Zaleska, M.D.
When Preparation Pays: A Smarter Approach to Disaster Response
Huge congratulations to Michael Hollis, MPH, a School of Public Health DrPH student, on his recently published article in the
International Journal of Disaster Response and Emergency Management examining anticipatory cash payments, an emerging policy approach in disaster response.
This new strategy provides direct financial assistance to individuals and households before a disaster fully unfolds, using early warning systems and risk forecasts rather than waiting until after damage occurs, helping people prepare, protect assets, and reduce harm while supporting faster recovery and more effective use of resources.
In the article “Anticipatory Cash Payments in Disasters: A Scoping Review,” Michael highlights recent real-world applications of anticipatory cash payments and assesses their effectiveness across disaster settings. The paper grew out of his final Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) during his time as an MPH student and is an excellent example of applied scholarship with real-world impact.
And thank you to Daniel Ehlke, Ph.D., MA, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management in the School of Public Health, for bringing this accomplishment to our attention.
Dr. Brian McNeil Earns Health Policy Fellowship Placement with Sen. Adam Schiff
We are thrilled to recognize Brian Keith McNeil, M.D., MBA, FACS, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Vice Chair of the Department of Urology, and Senior Staff Urologist at University Hospital at Downstate, for his prestigious placement as a 2025–2026 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellow with U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (CA).
Dr. McNeil was selected as one of only eight health professionals nationwide for this highly competitive fellowship program administered by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation’s premier health policy fellowship that places accomplished clinicians and health leaders in Washington, D.C. to work directly on federal health policy, legislative priorities, and regulatory strategy.
Dr. McNeil will serve as a senior health policy advisor in Senator Schiff’s office, helping inform and shape national health policy on key issues, including access to quality care, health equity, and the integration of clinical experience into legislative decision-making. This placement underscores his commitment to advancing equitable, patient-centered policies and brings Downstate’s voice into crucial national conversations.
At Downstate, Dr. McNeil has distinguished himself as a clinician, educator, and leader focused on reducing healthcare disparities and expanding opportunity in medicine. His election to the RWJF Health Policy Fellows class reflects both his individual leadership and Downstate’s mission to improve health outcomes for all, especially in underserved communities.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. McNeil on this significant achievement and the influence he will bring to national health policy from Capitol Hill back to Central Brooklyn, and globally!
Downstate’s Dr. Jane Zucker Appointed National Immunization Co-Chair
Jane R. Zucker, M.D., MSc
Photo Credit: Lizzy "Snaps" Sullivan
Shoutout to Jane R. Zucker, M.D., MSc, FIDSA, on being named co-chair of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit Adult Vaccination Recommendations Review Council. Dr. Zucker will represent the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the council. She currently serves as adjunct professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences here at Downstate.
The council brings together national vaccination stakeholders to review and inform adult immunization recommendations alongside professional medical societies and the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Dr. Zucker is a former assistant commissioner for the Bureau of Immunization at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She also previously served on the CDC’s vaccine advisory council and was among 17 members dismissed when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Jane Zucker Joins Former ACIP Leaders to Sound Alarm on U.S. Vaccine Policy
Jane R. Zucker, M.D., MSc
Photo Credit: Lizzy "Snaps" Sullivan
Congratulations to Jane R. Zucker, M.D., MSc, FIDSA, adjunct professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at Downstate, on her bylined contribution to a powerful viewpoints article published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, “The Erosion of a Pillar of Public Health: ACIP’s Role and the Future of U.S. Vaccine Policy Post–June 2025.”
Drawing on their direct experience, the authors examine how recent changes to ACIP have compromised the committee’s independence, scientific rigor, and credibility, with serious implications for national immunization policy. As outlined in the article’s Key Points, these departures from established, evidence-based processes threaten public trust, vaccine access, and the United States’ leadership in global vaccine science.
Dr. Zucker’s scholarship and public service reflect Downstate’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, health equity, and population health at a critical moment for public health.
The article was authored by the former voting members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including Dr. Zucker, who were dismissed in June 2025, following the appointment of HHS Secretary Kennedy.
Running for Public Health
Congratulations to DrPH candidate Madison “Maddy” Lazar, who proudly completed the TCS New York City Marathon in November after being accepted
through the lottery on her first attempt. Maddy’s interest in population health took
shape during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she served as an undergraduate
intern with HITLAB (Health Innovation Technology Lab).
Maddy approached marathon training as an applied public health exercise, integrating wearable technology, nutrition, and sustained physical activity to support long-term health. Her achievement reflects a commitment to population health and the understanding that endurance is a personal milestone, and for her, an enduring commitment to a public health intervention.
Congratulations, Maddy, on this great accomplishment!