School of Health Professions Leads Downstate’s Career Discovery Week Programming
By Office of the President | Apr 14, 2026
Along with Vanessa Vales-Lewis, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of the School of Health Professions, I joined the School of Health
Professions (SOHP) team in the NYC Career Discovery Week event held here at Downstate.
This citywide initiative introduces high school and college students to career pathways
through hands-on learning. More than 50 students from Erasmus Hall School for Service
and Learning attended, bringing strong engagement to the day’s activities.
Career Discovery Week reflects a broader commitment across New York City and SUNY to expand access to early career exploration and mentorship. The initiative connects students with academic institutions, healthcare professionals, and community-based organizations, helping them understand and pursue opportunities in health-related fields.
SOHP led a full-day program that highlighted the range of health professions. The event began with networking in the atrium, where SOHP programs engaged students alongside campus and community partners, including the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Teens Helping Each Other, and Health Education Alternatives for Teens.
Faculty and partners led a Health Careers Professional Panel featuring speakers from Physician Assistant studies, Health Informatics, Midwifery, and community-based health education. A student panel followed, featuring learners from SOHP and the School of Public Health who shared their academic and lived experiences, and perspectives on training in the health professions.
Dr. Vales-Lewis, Assistant Dean of the School of Health Professions, titled “Start Where You Are,” which outlined pathways and opportunities available to students interested in health careers.
In the afternoon, faculty led hands-on Career Discovery Stations in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Assistive Technology, along with a Snoezelen-based therapeutic environment demonstrating sensory-focused care. Through structured rotations, students engaged directly with clinical tools and simulations, gaining practical insight into patient care and clinical practice.
SOHP’s leadership in NYC Career Discovery Week reflects its ongoing focus on pathway development, interprofessional education, and community engagement, supporting early exposure to careers in healthcare.
We look forward to seeing some of these faces in the near future, as they pursue professions in healthcare.
