Running for a Healthier Brooklyn: Supporting the Brooklyn Free Clinic

By Office of the President | Sep 8, 2026

Registration is open for the inaugural Brooklyn Free Clinic 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Prospect Park. The race begins at 10:00 a.m., rain or shine, and is limited to 400 participants. The 3.1-mile course will finish at Center Drive, followed by refreshments and music in the Nethermead.

The Brooklyn Free Clinic reflects Downstate’s commitment to education and service. Since 2007, students from Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, and Public Health have worked under the supervision of volunteer physicians and faculty advisors to provide free healthcare and preventive screenings to uninsured Brooklyn residents.

In 2015, the Clinic was renamed the Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic in honor of Anne Sarah Kastor, M.D., the Downstate physician, educator, and community health advocate who mentored its student founders. That tradition of mentorship and student leadership continues today.

For patients, the Clinic provides care they might otherwise go without. For students, it offers valuable experience listening to patients, working across disciplines, and understanding how access, income, housing, language, and other circumstances affect health.

Second-year medical students Jack Lahn and Cindy Du created the 5K and serve as co-chairs of the Clinic Council’s Fundraising Committee. They combined their commitment to the Clinic with their interest in running to develop an event that promotes health while supporting access to care. I commend them for moving this effort from an idea toward race day while managing the demands of medical school.

Event Director Rose Savage Jackman, MPH, who serves as Advisor to the Brooklyn Free Clinic Fundraising Chairs and Event Director of the BFC 5K Run/Walk, has drawn on her experience in wellness, fundraising, and running to guide the student organizers. Volunteer coaches are also leading a six-week training clinic to help participants prepare.

The Office of the President proudly supports this effort alongside JAG Physical Therapy, Downstate Health Physicians, and Sodexo. The College of Medicine Alumni Association. University Orthopedic Associates, Division of Sports Medicine, will provide the race-day medical team.

I encourage our faculty, staff, students, residents, fellows, alumni, families, and friends to register, form a fundraising team, donate, volunteer, or spread the word. Every contribution supports the Clinic, our students, and our shared responsibility to care for Brooklyn.