A Message from President Riley
By Office of the President | Jun 2, 2026
Excellence That Shapes the Future
Dear Downstate Community,
As we conclude another academic year and prepare for a brief summer pause in publication of the President’s Bulletin, I am proud to reflect on the many accomplishments highlighted in this issue and the extraordinary work taking place across Downstate.
We proudly celebrate several members of the Downstate community whose achievements have earned prestigious recognition. Dr. Jeffrey P. Weiss was appointed a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor; Drs. Elizabeth Helzner, Jason Lazar, Marie-Claire Rosenberg Roberts, and Jasmin Thomas received Schneps Media’s 2026 Healthcare Heroes Vanguard Award, and Heidi Aronin, MPA, was named one of City & State New York’s 2026 Higher Education Trailblazers. These honors reflect the excellence, leadership, and impact that define Downstate.
The planned transformation of the Emergency Department at University Hospital at Downstate reflects the promise of Governor Hochul’s $1.1 billion investment in our institution. Downstate provides care for our community, educates emerging healthcare leaders, and advances clinical research. The modernization of our Emergency Department represents an investment in infrastructure, access, quality, innovation, and the health of Central Brooklyn.
Equally important are the initiatives highlighted in this issue that demonstrate our commitment to health equity and community partnership. The expansion of the Brooklyn Health Equity Index under the leadership of Dr. Montgomery Douglas reflects our determination to listen to patients, learn from their experiences, and use data to improve healthcare delivery.
The We Care About Brooklyn (WeCAB) initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Aimee Afable, continues to address one of our community’s most urgent challenges, specifically maternal health disparities, through innovative partnerships, coordinated support services, and community-engaged research focused on improving outcomes for mothers and families.
Downstate’s research continues to have local and global impact. Faculty members Dr. Thomas Wallach and Dr. Janet Rosenbaum contributed important scholarship to a special issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, one of the world’s most respected scientific journals. Their work examining childhood growth, nutrition, and health outcomes demonstrates the global relevance of research conducted at Downstate and the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex public health challenges.
The Department of Urology escalates Downstate’s commitment to academic excellence through its strong representation at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting. Faculty, residents, students, and collaborators presented studies addressing critical questions in urinary health, chronic disease, men’s health, and patient outcomes. These presentations reflect the academic rigor, scientific curiosity, and collaborative spirit that continue to strengthen Downstate’s presence within academic medicine.
Finally, this issue underscores the importance of preparing healthcare leaders to collaborate on improving patient experiences and outcomes. The annual Interprofessional Education Case Study brought students from across our schools together to tackle complex clinical challenges through teamwork, communication, and shared decision-making. Programs such as these reinforce the collaborative approach that increasingly defines excellence in healthcare delivery.
This issue reflects Downstate’s fulfillment of its mission through exceptional education, innovative research, compassionate patient care, meaningful community engagement, and transformative leadership. We are reminded that our greatest strength is our faculty, staff, students, trainees, alumni, and community partners who continue to move this institution forward.
As this is our last President’s Bulletin issue before its summer hiatus, I want to thank everyone who has contributed stories, achievements, and milestones throughout the year. While the Bulletin will pause publication during the summer and resume after Labor Day, the Office of Communications & Marketing will continue to share important institutional news, announcements, accomplishments, and timely updates throughout the summer months.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Downstate and to the communities we are privileged to serve. I wish you and your families a safe, healthy, and fun summer.