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 - April 8 , 2025
SUNY Downstate stood at the heart of a global crisis in early 2020 that changed the world and tested every fiber of our humanity. As the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives, devastated communities, and claimed millions of lives around the globe, University...
SOHP Dean Lewis Presents on Culture and Brain Injury Care at BIAC Conference
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
Allen N. Lewis, Ph.D., CRC, Dean of the School of Health Professions, joined national leaders at the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC) Conference, held at Quinnipiac University’s School of Medicine in collaboration with Yale New Haven...
Tags: Conference
Bold Voices, Real Talk, and a Call for Equity That Delivers
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
In honor of Women’s History Month, Downstate hosted Equity at the Table: Women Leaders in Healthcare, Research & Education, an energizing and thought-provoking panel discussion co-sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of Communications...
Tags: Commemorative Months, Diversity
The Giancarlo Iosue Story of Love and Hope Inspires NICU Nursing Scholarship
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
There is perhaps no experience more heart-wrenching than watching a newborn struggle for survival in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The hum of machines, the beeping of monitors, the stillness between alarms—every second is stretched between...
Tags: Awards, Nursing, Scholarships
Downstate Study Sheds New Light on Avian Flu Risk Factors
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
When highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), known as the H5N1 strain, reached the United States in early 2022, it sparked widespread concern among scientists, farmers and consumers. Millions of poultry birds were culled to contain outbreaks, driving...
Dr. Robin Ovitsh to Receive 2025 NEGEA Distinguished Service & Leadership Award
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
Robin K. Ovitsh, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and former Associate Dean of Clinical Competencies in the College of Medicine, was named the recipient of the 2025 Northeast Group on Educational Affairs (NEGEA) Distinguished Service...
Tags: Pediatrics
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Enhances Patient Care at Case Study Roundtable
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
More than 400 students from the School of Health Professions, College of Nursing, and School of Public Health participated in this year’s Interprofessional Case Study Roundtable, a hands-on learning experience designed to reflect the complexity...
Tags: Patient Care
In Memoriam: Dr. Hermann Mendez (1949–2025)
by Office of the President - April 8 , 2025
We mourn the passing of Dr. Hermann Mendez, M.D., a trailblazing pediatrician whose work at SUNY Downstate shaped the care of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Brooklyn and across the nation.
A Message from President Riley
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
As we begin a new academic year, I am pleased to welcome our returning students, faculty, and staff and warmly welcome the new students joining each of our colleges at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Downstate).
Lifting Lives, Changing Futures—Celebrating Our Social Workers!
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
What does it take to be a social worker? A heart full of compassion, a problem-solving mindset, and a relentless spirit ready to take on life’s toughest challenges. This Social Work Month, we celebrate the everyday heroes who uplift individuals,...
Tags: Commemorative Months, Social Work
From Boston to Brooklyn: Future Healthcare Leaders Meet at Downstate!
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
Last October, Ernest J. Barthélemy, M.D., MPH, MA, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery here at Downstate, delivered a keynote at Emmanuel College to mark the launch of its Global & Public Health major. Since then, a group of 12 Emmanuel College...
Tags: Neurosurgery
Lead, Mercury, and Motherhood: Protecting Mothers and Children from Environmental Harm
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
Environmental pollution affects everyone, but women—especially during pregnancy—face distinct risks from toxic substances like lead and mercury. Laura Geer, Ph.D., MHS, Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences,...
Tags: Events
Downstate Guardians of Kidney Health
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
Downstate recently joined institutions around the globe in recognizing World Kidney Day, embracing the theme: “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Early, Protect for Life.” The day was a powerful reminder of early detection and prevention’s critical...
Tags: Downstate Health, Kidney
Downstate Marks 10 Years of Advancing Cancer Equity with Nationally Recognized Symposium
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
Downstate recently hosted the 10th Annual Cancer Health Disparities Symposium, welcoming physicians, scientists, nurses, trainees, students, and community members for a day of learning and collaboration centered on addressing the ongoing disparities...
Tags: Cancer, Health Disparities
Treating Violence: Dr. Robert Gore on Medicine, Mentorship, and Community Action
by Office of the President - March 25 , 2025
Robert Gore, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI), recently joined students, faculty, and staff for a Black History Month conversation about his new book, Treating Violence:...
Tags: Emergency Medicine