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The President's Bulletin

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The President’s Bulletin is a bi-weekly publication created to keep students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, friends, and others informed about the latest news at Downstate Health Sciences University. We hope you enjoy reading the articles and find them informative and useful.

Venus Williams and Dr. Viswanathan

Psychiatry Meets the Global Stage

by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025

The 2025 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting opened with two extraordinary conversations that set the tone for a transformative gathering.

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Tags: Psychiatry

Nicole Gladstein

Scalpel Meets Smartphone

by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025

We proudly announce that Nicole Gladstein, a third-year medical student at Downstate, has received the prestigious 2025 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship from the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society. This national award honors...

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Thomas Wallach group photo

Fighting for Life in a System Built for Caution

by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025

A recent deep personal conversation at Downstate was sparked by loss, driven by science, and rooted in the urgent need to rethink how we regulate hope. The discussion centered on For Love and Life: No Ordinary Campaign. This documentary follows Brian...

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Tags: Research

COM SGS Ceremony

Celebrating History, Honor, and a Missing Hammer!

by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025

Over 100 students and faculty gathered the night before Commencement for the College of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies Awards Ceremony. Livestreamed for family, friends, and supporters, the event honored academic excellence, mentorship,...

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Tags: Awards, College of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies

Shout Outs

Shout Outs

by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025

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In Case You Missed it

In Case You Missed It

by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025

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Dr Riley

A Message from President Riley

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

This past Tuesday, I was honored to celebrate the 2025 Commencement Exercises of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Downstate), joining with other leaders and more than 600 graduates from the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School...

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One Downstate; One Mission

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

The Coney Island Amphitheater was filled with joy, reflection, and deep pride as we celebrated over 600 graduates from our five schools and colleges. Two inspiring ceremonies—held at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.—did more than close one academic chapter....

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PA Graduate Receives SUNY Mental Health Scholarship

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

Congratulations to Girgis Welsen, a 2025 graduate of the School of Health Professions Physician Assistant (PA) Program, and one of only 15 students statewide to receive the SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship—a transformative initiative advancing...

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Tags: Physician Assistant, School of Health Professions

image of IRB

Ethics in Gender-Inclusive Research Practices

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

Exclusion can begin with a single word—long before research even begins. At Downstate, a team of researchers recognized that the language used in consent forms and study materials can either invite trust or create distance. Their work is now sparking...

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Tags: Research

poster session

Where Questions Become Impact

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

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3 photos of yoga

The Science of Stillness to the Heart of Downstate

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

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Shout Outs

Shout Outs

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

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In Case You Missed it

In Case You Missed It

by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025

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Dr Riley

A Message from President Riley

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

As the academic year ends, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the graduating Class of 2025. Your resilience, discipline, and hard work have brought you to this defining milestone of the walk across the stage and the beginning of your professional...

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group photo

Transforming Occupational Therapy Training

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

At Downstate, the Occupational Therapy Program deepens its decade-long partnership with Adapt Community Network—formerly United Cerebral Palsy of New York—by giving students direct access to individuals living with disabilities. Through this...

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Tags: Occupational Therapy Program

group photo

Say “Yes” to Organ Donation

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

In March, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new law, supported by LiveOnNY, to expand public education about organ donation across New York State. According to the New York State Donor Registry, nearly 10,000 New Yorkers are waiting for a transplant....

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Tags: Division of Transplantation, Kidney

photo of Ramaswamy Viswanathan

Conversations about Purpose, Empowerment, and Psychiatry

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

We are excited to share the news that Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D., Dr.Med.Sc., as President of the American Psychiatric Association, will take the national stage at the APA 2025 Annual Meeting for two extraordinary conversations about health, leadership,...

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Tags: Psychiatry

the two researchers

Changing What We Know About Alcoholism

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

More than 35 years ago, Downstate’s Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics Lab launched a groundbreaking study on alcohol use disorders. The result, the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA), continues to shape our understanding of addiction,...

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Tags: Psychiatry, Research

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Earth Day Groove in the Grove

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

What began as a single Earth Day table in the Atrium is now an annual campus-wide event. This year, more than 800 students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Grove to mark the occasion with activities focused on environmental awareness and sustainab...

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Tags: Campus Events, Events

photo of Meliah McPhie

Lifting Every Voice for Downstate

by Office of the President - May 6 , 2025

Congratulations to Meliah McPhie, a student in Downstate’s School of Public Health student and a Brooklyn resident, who was recently recognized for her powerful op-ed supporting Downstate, published in the BK Reader.

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Tags: School of Public Health