The President's Bulletin
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.
A Message from President Riley
by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025
As we approach the summer months, I offer my deepest gratitude to each of you—our students, faculty, researchers, staff, and alums—for another year defined by determination, resilience, and a shared commitment to the health and future of our...
From Downstate to D.C.: Dr. Brian McNeil Named RWJF/NAM Health Policy Fellow
by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025
With great pride, we announce a prestigious national honor for Downstate’s Brian McNeil, M.D., MBA, FACS, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Vice Chair of Urology. Dr. McNeil has been selected as one of only eight health professionals across...
Redefining AAPI Leadership in Medicine, Academia, and Health Equity
by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities contribute are vital to the U.S. healthcare system—not only as clinicians, researchers, educators, and public health leaders, but also as caregivers, advocates, innovators, community organizers,...
Tags: Health Equity
From Central Brooklyn to the Global Stage: Equity in Neuroscience
by Office of the President - June 3 , 2025
Earlier this spring, Downstate convened global researchers, clinicians, and policy leaders for the Global Neuroscience Initiative Meeting under the theme, ‘Health Equity in the Precision Medicine Era of Global Neuroscience.’ This gathering reinforced...
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.
Tags: Psychiatry
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...
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...
Tags: Research
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,...
Tags: Awards, College of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies
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...
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....
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...
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...
Tags: Research
The Science of Stillness to the Heart of Downstate
by Office of the President - May 22 , 2025