Downstate Leaders Honored as Healthcare Heroes
By Office of the President | Jun 2, 2026
Left to right: Efekona Nuwere, Ed.D., MPH, OTR/L, Marie-Claire Rosenberg-Roberts, Ph.D., MS, MPA, RN, Jasmin Thomas, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, Elizabeth P. Helzner, Ph.D., MS, DipACLM, Jason M. Lazar, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., FACS, Lori Escallier, Ph.D., R.N., CPNP-PC, FAAN, and Kitaw Demissie, M.D., Ph.D.
Downstate proudly celebrates four distinguished faculty and academic leaders recognized at Schneps Media’s 2026 Healthcare Heroes awards, one of New York’s premier celebrations of healthcare excellence.
This year’s honorees included:
- Elizabeth P. Helzner, Ph.D., MS, DipACLM, Associate Professor and Interim Chair of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Public Health and Co-Director of the Brooklyn Initiative to Develop Geriatrics Education
- Jason M. Lazar, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, Executive Vice Dean and Chair of the Department of Medical Education in the College of Medicine
- Marie-Claire Rosenberg-Roberts, Ph.D., MS, MPA, RN, Executive Vice Dean and Executive Director of the Center for Healthcare Simulation in the College of Nursing
- Jasmin Thomas, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy in the School of Health Professions
What made this year’s recognition especially meaningful was that all four Downstate leaders received Schneps Media’s Vanguard Award, a distinction recognizing individuals whose leadership, innovation, and service are helping shape the future of healthcare.
These honorees represent the breadth of Downstate’s impact across healthcare education, workforce development, patient safety, public health, research, and community engagement.
Dr. Helzner was recognized for advancing public health through leadership in epidemiology, education, and community-based research. As Interim Chair of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, she has strengthened academic programs, expanded opportunities for students, and advanced research focused on aging, chronic disease, hearing loss, cognition, and health disparities among underserved urban populations. Through her leadership of the Brooklyn Initiative to Develop Geriatrics Education and her commitment to education and mentoring emerging public health leaders, she continues to improve health outcomes while strengthening the public health workforce.
Dr. Lazar was honored for his transformative leadership in medical education. As Executive Vice Dean and Chair of the Department of Medical Education, he oversees the M.D. program, advances simulation-based learning, and promotes faculty development across the institution. A SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, he has played a formative role in the professional development of countless students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty through mentorship, career advising, bedside teaching, and clinical training while fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and support that enriches the learning environment for all.
Dr. Rosenberg-Roberts was recognized for her extraordinary contributions to nursing education, patient safety, and healthcare workforce development. With more than 25 years of clinical, academic, and research experience, she leads major initiatives in curriculum development, accreditation, and simulation-based education. Her nationally recognized scholarship and commitment to mentorship continue to strengthen healthcare delivery while preparing the next generation of clinicians and healthcare leaders.
Dr. Thomas was honored for her commitment to advancing occupational therapy education, community engagement, and patient-centered care. She developed an innovative emotional intelligence curriculum adopted by occupational therapy programs nationwide, mentors students through service-learning initiatives, and recently received the 2026 Dr. Virginia Radley SUNY Fellowship for her research project, The Black Angels of Seaview Hospital: Women’s Leadership in the Transformation of Healthcare in New York State. This project brings long-overdue recognition to Black nurses whose contributions helped transform public health in New York as they cared for patients infected with tuberculosis. Her contributions continue to strengthen occupational therapy education while elevating the role of empathy, equity, and human connection in healthcare.
These recognitions reflect not only the accomplishments of the individual honorees but also the strength of the academic leadership supporting them. I extend my appreciation to F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., FACS, Dean of the College of Medicine; Lori Escallier, Ph.D., R.N., CPNP-PC, FAAN, Dean of the College of Nursing; Allen N. Lewis, Jr., Ph.D., CRC, Dean of the School of Health Professions; and Kitaw Demissie, M.D., Ph.D., Dean of the School of Public Health, for their commitment to excellence in education, research, clinical care, and faculty development, and for nominating these leaders for recognition.
Each dean personally presented the awards to their respective nominees. In Dean Lewis’s absence, Efekona Nuwere, Ed.D., MPH, OTR/L, Chair and Assistant Professor of the Occupational Therapy Program, accepted the honor and presented on behalf of the School of Health Professions.
Congratulations to Drs. Helzner, Lazar, Rosenberg-Roberts, and Thomas. Their achievements exemplify Downstate’s mission to advance health, educate future leaders, and improve lives through service, scholarship, and compassionate care.
We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and thank Schneps Media for recognizing healthcare professionals whose work strengthens our communities. We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence and celebrating future Downstate honorees in the years ahead.
Schneps Media Honors Downstate Healthcare Heroes
Tags: Awards