Student Life & Community

As a student in the School of Public Health, you'll experience Brooklyn as a Brooklynite.

Living in one of the nation's most culturally vibrant cities is a daily thrill. Even blocks you walk all the time will change constantly. When you're at Downstate, you'll have more opportunities to get involved with your new community than you could possibly take advantage of.

While you'll have to go far afield to put your classroom lessons to work at some schools, you'll just have to leave your residence hall to do so here. (Our residence halls are conveniently located across the street from academic buildings, the library and the hospital. A 24-hour security presence at the main entrance, as well as key-card access, are among the extensive measures we take for your safety.)

Faculty and student projects often include collaboration with our College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, community-based organizations, and the University Hospital of Brooklyn and its affiliated hospitals and institutions. And you can join a host of community service-oriented student groups, including:

• The Brooklyn Free Clinic (BFC), a student-run health care clinic that works with others to improve access to medical treatment.
• The Street Medicine Outreach Association at Downstate, a student-led group that serves the homeless population near Downstate.
• Project TEACH @ SUNY Downstate, which gives pediatric patients a chance to do fun science experiments with Downstate students.
• Students Partnering and Reaching Kids (SPARK), a mentoring program that puts Downstate students into K–12 classrooms to teach life skills.
• Students for Social Responsibility, a student-run service group that sponsors events such as flu shot and bone marrow drives.