Shout Outs
By Office of the President | Feb 17, 2026
College of Nursing Leader Dr. Marie-Claire Roberts Inducted into the New York Academy of Medicine
The College of Nursing is pleased to announce that Dr. Marie-Claire Roberts was inducted
into the New York Academy of Medicine. This honor was conferred during the Academy’s
Anniversary Discourse, Annual Awards, and Meeting of the Fellows, recognizing leaders
whose work advances health, medicine, and education.
Dr. Roberts serves as Executive Vice Dean of the College of Nursing and Executive Director of the Center for Healthcare Simulation at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. Her induction into the New York Academy of Medicine—an organization committed to improving the health of people in New York and around the world—reflects the impact of her work in nursing education, simulation, and collaboration across the health professions.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Roberts on this well-deserved recognition.
Go Red. Keep Care Close…to Your Heart
Every year, the Downstate community comes together to Go Red for Women, and this year was no exception.
Faculty, staff, and students wore red to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for women in the United States, responsible for 1 in 3 deaths each year. Nearly half of women ages 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. These numbers remind us why awareness, prevention, and early screening matter.
This year, we distributed red string bags featuring our #KeepCareClose message—with a special emphasis: “to your heart.” It was a powerful reminder that Downstate encourages heart-healthy living, preventive care, and regular checkups for the communities we serve.
In Brooklyn, where chronic disease continues to affect health outcomes across neighborhoods, our role as an academic health center carries real responsibility. Events like Go Red for Women reinforce our commitment to education, access, and action.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped amplify the message. Downstate keeps care close to our community and to your heart.
Welcoming Our New Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductees
Congratulations to our newest inductees into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, selected by their peers for the empathy, integrity, and respect they bring to every patient encounter. Their induction reflects a commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care that defines the very best of our profession.
Established by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 2002, the Gold Humanism Honor Society recognizes students, residents, and faculty who exemplify humanism in healthcare. With chapters at medical schools nationwide, GHHS has grown into a national movement advancing humanism as a defining principle of medical education and practice.
We are proud to celebrate this outstanding group of SUNY Downstate medical students and their induction into this distinguished society.
Thank you to Jeffrey Putman, Ed.D., and Elka Jacobson-Dickman, M.D., for co-hosting the ceremony and for their dedicated leadership of our chapter. Downstate’s more than 30-year partnership with The Arnold P. Gold Foundation reflects our shared belief that excellence and humanity belong together in healthcare.
I was honored to deliver greetings at the ceremony. This occasion holds special significance for me through my service on the Board of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Supporting the Foundation’s mission to embed humanism throughout medical education is work we value deeply at Downstate.
To our newest inductees: you strengthen our community and inspire confidence in the future of medicine. Congratulations.
