Brooklyn Health Equity Index Expands Across Downstate
By Office of the President | Jun 2, 2026
From Left to Right: Montgomery Douglas, M.D.; Aimee Afable, Ph.D., MPH
Downstate is expanding the implementation of the Brooklyn Health Equity Index (BKHI) this summer, strengthening efforts to better understand patient experiences and improve health equity across the communities we serve.
Developed with seed support from the New York Health Foundation and Healthfirst, the BKHI is an innovative initiative designed to capture patient perspectives and help healthcare providers identify opportunities to improve care delivery, strengthen trust, and ensure that all patients receive respectful, compassionate, and equitable care. The initiative is led by Montgomery Douglas, M.D., Professor of Family and Community Medicine and founder of the Brooklyn Health Equity Index (BKHI), and Aimee Afable, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences in the School of Public Health.
Building on its 2025 launch, Downstate is deploying a large team of students and staff to support patient recruitment and outreach across six clinical areas: the Emergency Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, the STAR Clinic, Family Medicine, and Transplant Services. Brooklyn residents receiving care in participating departments are invited to complete a brief survey about their healthcare experiences. Their feedback helps identify opportunities to improve care delivery, inform quality improvement initiatives, and strengthen patient-centered care.
BKHI has already been integrated into MyChart at One Brooklyn Health, where survey findings are helping inform quality improvement initiatives centered on health equity. By gathering direct patient feedback, the program seeks to identify barriers to care, mitigate bias, promote cultural humility, and strengthen trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
The initiative reflects the collaborative efforts of faculty, staff, students, and community partners. Victor Puac-Polanco, M.D., MPH, continues to lead validation efforts, while Mohamed Nakeshbandi, M.D., UHD Chief Medical Officer, serves as a co-investigator. Moyouri Bhattacharjee, MPH, DrPH, Research Coordinator, coordinates BKHI activities, and Kaleish Macdonald, MPH, student, leads patient outreach efforts.
Downstate and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health will host a community symposium later this year to share early findings from BKHI, recognize partners and participants, and gather feedback to help guide the next phase.
The Brooklyn Health Equity Index exemplifies Downstate’s commitment to listening to patients, partnering with communities, and using data to improve health outcomes. As the initiative continues to grow, it will provide valuable insights to help ensure that quality care is accessible, equitable, and responsive to the needs of Brooklyn’s diverse communities.