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School of Health Professions Blog

Dr. Despor & Lewis

Leadership Transition in the School of Health Professions

by Office of the President - June 2 , 2026

Downstate has announced the appointment of Brigitte C. Desport, D.P.S., OTR/L, BCP, ATP, as Interim Dean of the School of Health Professions (SoHP), effective June 1, 2026.

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Tags: School of Health Professions

IPE Conference

One Patient, Many Perspectives: IPE in Action Across Downstate

by Office of the President - June 2 , 2026

More than 200 students, faculty, and staff participated in the School of Health Professions’ (SoHP) annual Interprofessional Education Case Study (IPECS). Hosted in collaboration with the College of Nursing and the School of Public Health, the...

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Tags: College of Nursing, School of Graduate Studies, School of Health Professions

Allen N. Lewis, Jr., PhD, CRC

Appointment of Dr. Brigitte C. Desport As Interim Dean, School of Health Professions; Retirement of Dean Allen N. Lewis, Jr.

by Office of the President - June 1 , 2026

Effective today, June 1, 2026, Brigitte C. Desport, D.P.S., OTR/L, BCP, ATP, will serve as Interim Dean of the School of Health Professions.

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Tags: School of Health Professions

SOHP 60 Marquee

SOHP Honors the Class of 2026 While Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence in Healthcare Education

by Deans Office - May 29 , 2026

The School of Health Professions (SOHP) at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University celebrated a historic milestone as students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and community partners gathered for a series of events recognizing the Class of 2026...

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Tags: 60th anniversary, Commencement, SOHP 60, School of Health Professions, convocation

photo of Suzanne Rappaport,

Downstate OT Team Shares Research at International Conferences

by Office of the President - May 19 , 2026

Suzanne Rappaport, OTD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor and Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PP-OTD) Program Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Program, is gaining national and international recognition for research examining occupational...

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Tags: Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions

Sonography

Expanding Access to Sonography Training to Meet Workforce Needs

by Office of the President - April 28 , 2026

Beginning in the Fall of 2026, the School of Health Professions will transition its Diagnostic Medical Imaging program from an upper-division bachelor’s degree to a Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

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Tags: Diagnostic Medical Sonography, School of Health Professions

group photo

From Foundations to Patient Care, OT Class of 2026 Reaches a Defining Milestone

by Office of the President - April 28 , 2026

The Occupational Therapy Program’s Master’s Project Day and White Coat Ceremony at Downstate marks a fundamental shift as students move from research and academic preparation into clinical practice.

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Tags: Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions

Brooklyn Lend Program

Systems Change and Leadership

by Brooklyn LEND & Office of Continuing Medical Education - April 24 , 2026

We invite you to attend a free hybrid CME/CE panel discussion on Friday, May 8, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This event will explore how leadership can drive systems change to improve services for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

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Tags: Brooklyn Lend Program, School of Health Professions

Student Group Photo

School of Health Professions Leads Downstate’s Career Discovery Week Programming

by Office of the President - April 14 , 2026

Along with Vanessa Vales-Lewis, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of the School of Health Professions, I joined the School of Health Professions (SOHP) team in the NYC Career Discovery Week event held here at Downstate. This citywide initiative introduces high...

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Tags: School of Health Professions

Happy Occupational Therapy Month

by Office of Communications & Marketing - April 9 , 2026

This April, we proudly celebrate Occupational Therapy Month and recognize the extraordinary Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) across the Downstate community.

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Tags: Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions

group photo

Stepping Into the White Coat and Into the Health Professions

by Office of the President - March 31 , 2026

Downstate welcomed more than 50 high school students in grades 9–12 from across New York City for the Black Men in White Coats (BMWC), a national initiative to increase diversity in medicine, in partnership with the Kings Against Violence Initiative...

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Tags: School of Health Professions