Shout Outs
By Office of the President | Apr 28, 2026
Brooklyn Psychiatric Society Resident Scholarly Presentations Competition Hosted at Downstate
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University hosted the Brooklyn Psychiatric Society’s flagship event—the 2026 Resident Scholarly Presentations Competition—on April 15.
Downstate Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
L-R: Tobi Somorin, M.D., MPH; Isaac Vingan, M.D.
Tobi Somorin, a fourth-year MD/MPH candidate, and Isaac Vingan, a ninth- year M.D./Ph.D. candidate, have received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, the highest honor awarded to SUNY students.
The award recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence alongside meaningful contributions to their campus and community across areas such as leadership, research, and service.
Dr. Somorin’s work connects clinical training with policy and access. His research in reconstructive plastic surgery examines differences in care and patient outcomes, alongside work in health policy and student wellness programs. His efforts reflect Downstate’s commitment to advancing health equity and improving care for underserved communities.
Dr. Vingan’s work in neuroscience examines how gene expression influences memory and learning. His research, combined with his leadership in student governance, supports Downstate’s role as an academic medical center where scientific discovery and education strengthen patient care and institutional leadership.
We congratulate both students on this recognition and thank them for the example they set across the Downstate community.
Downstate Faculty Represented at SUNY Governance Plenary
Downstate faculty participated in the SUNY University Faculty Senate (UFS) Spring Plenary, recently held at Farmingdale State College. Attendees included Senators Vikram Pagpatan, EdD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, School of Health Professions; Anika I. Daniels, EdD, MPH, Associate Dean for Education, School of Public Health; Lori A. Hoepner, DrPH, MPH, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health.
In addition to the Senators, Downstate Assembly of Faculty & Professional Staff President-Elect Mark Stewart, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology and Neurology, School of Graduate Studies, and SUNY UFS Parliamentarian, Henry Flax (ret.), Downstate Health Sciences University.
Alongside colleagues across SUNY, Downstate representatives participated in system-wide policy discussions shaping academic programs, faculty priorities, and public higher education.
Thank you, all, for representing Downstate and ensuring the voice of an academic health sciences university is present in system-level decisions.
Edeline Mitton Honored for CME Leadership
Edeline Mitton, MEd, MPH, Director of Continuing Medical Education, has received the Excellence in Service
to SACME Award from the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education.
A longtime contributor to SACME, she has served as Board Secretary for five years and continues her work on the Scholarship Committee. She also leads the Fostering Community in Continuing Professional Development Task Force, supporting collaboration and growth across the field.
Her recognition reflects national leadership in advancing continuing medical education and professional development.
Nursing Students Lead at Brooklyn Free Clinic
Downstate College of Nursing students serving in leadership roles at the Brooklyn Free Clinic were recently recognized for their service with vests marking their roles in the student-run clinic.
At the clinic, students welcome patients, conduct triage, assess vital signs, and help guide care for individuals who often rely on the clinic as a primary access point. Working alongside faculty and peers across Downstate, they contribute to a coordinated, patient-centered approach.
In addition to clinical care, students support outreach, communications, and patient education. Their work reflects Downstate’s commitment to service, skill-building, and strengthening trust in the communities we serve.