Shout Outs
By Office of the President | Jun 2, 2026
School of Health Professions Hosts Career Alumni Networking Event
As SoHP prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, this year's fifth annual Career Alumni Networking Event (CANE) program showcased the strong connections that define our community. More than 60 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners participated in two days of networking, mentorship, and career development opportunities designed to connect future healthcare professionals with alumni and employers.
Students gained valuable insights from accomplished alumni serving in leadership and clinical roles across multiple disciplines, while virtual networking sessions connected participants with healthcare organizations, rehabilitation providers, schools, specialty practices, and public health employers throughout the region.
Special recognition goes to Brigitte Desport, DPS, OTR/L, BCP, ATP, Interim Dean of SoHP, and Vanessa Vales-Lewis, Ph.D., MAT, Assistant Dean, for their leadership of a successful event. Thank you also to the SoHP Alumni Association, participating faculty and alumni panelists, employer partners, and community organizations whose support continues to strengthen career pathways for our students.
Your commitment to mentorship, workforce development, and student success exemplifies the very best of SoHP.
Meet Ms. Marcie, A Slice of Jamaican Sunshine at Downstate
Whether she is serving meals, supporting her Sodexo team, or greeting customers with
a smile, Ms. Marcie brings warmth and Caribbean pride to our community.
This Caribbean Heritage Month, we celebrate Marcia "Ms. Marcie" Gordon, Retail Operations Manager for Sodexo Food Services. Originally from Manchester Parish, Jamaica, Ms. Marcie has been a valued member of the Downstate community since 2005, bringing her passion for hospitality, service, and caring for others to everything she does.
Her Jamaican heritage informs the values she brings to work each day: community, compassion, and making people feel welcome. Whether she is helping to shape menu offerings in The Commons, supporting her team, or ensuring that patients, visitors, and colleagues have access to satisfying and nutritious meals, Ms. Marcie helps create an environment where people feel cared for and connected.
Take a few minutes to watch Ms. Marcie's Caribbean Heritage Month profile video and learn more about her journey, her love of Jamaican culture, and the heart she brings to Downstate every day.
Serving Caribbean Pride One Plate at a Time: Meet Ms. Marcie
Progress in Motion: Making Way for Downstate's Future
If you have noticed activity at the corner of Lenox Road and 34th/35th Streets, you
are seeing an important step in Downstate's transformation.
Demolition of the former parking garage has begun, making way for the future Downstate Annex, a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center that will expand access to cardiology, oncology, imaging, outpatient services, and advanced surgical care for the communities we serve.
While demolition and debris removal will continue over the coming months, this work represents an important step toward a more modern, patient-centered healthcare campus for Brooklyn.
As work continues, neighbors and community members may notice increased truck traffic, noise, and airborne dust. We encourage everyone to take common-sense precautions, such as avoiding the immediate work area when possible, keeping nearby windows closed, and using a face mask when dust levels are elevated.
To capture this historic milestone, the Communications & Marketing team is documenting the demolition through a time-lapse video. We will share the completed video with the Downstate community once demolition is finished, offering a unique look at the transformation underway.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we move forward. Every milestone brings us closer to a stronger, more modern Downstate.