SUNY’s First DNP in Clinical Leadership and Innovation
By Office of the President | Sep 8, 2026
I am excited to announce that Downstate has launched a Doctor of Nursing Practice program in Clinical Leadership and Innovation, becoming the first SUNY institution to offer a DNP focused on clinical leadership.
Recently approved by the New York State Education Department, the five-semester distance-learning program is designed for master’s-prepared nurses seeking leadership roles in clinical practice and healthcare organizations. Nurse leadership matters because nurses understand both patients’ needs and the realities facing the teams who care for them. Their experience should inform decisions about staffing, patient safety, quality, technology, and the organization and delivery of care.
The program will prepare nurses to translate evidence into practice, identify gaps in care, lead interprofessional teams, and develop and evaluate improvements across healthcare systems. It will also help nurses move into leadership while remaining connected to clinical practice and the people delivering care.
That preparation is particularly important as healthcare organizations manage workforce shortages, health disparities, emerging technologies, changing care models, and increased expectations for quality and accountability. Developing leaders from within can support retention, succession planning, staff development, and more stable clinical teams.
The benefits extend beyond individual career advancement. Nurse leaders can strengthen working conditions, guide responsible change, and ensure that organizational decisions reflect what patients and caregivers experience each day. For Brooklyn and communities across New York, this means a stronger leadership pipeline and a nursing workforce better prepared for increasingly complex healthcare needs.
The new program builds on Downstate’s academic and clinical environment, where students can examine the challenges facing healthcare organizations and the communities they serve.
Congratulations to Lori Escallier, Ph.D., RN, CPNP-PC, FAAN, Professor and Dean of the College of Nursing, and Patricia A. Winston, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, Clinical Associate Professor and DNP Track Director. Their leadership has created a pathway for experienced nurses to expand their influence, strengthen the profession, and improve care.