News from the University Hospital at Downstate
November 2023

A Message from David H. Berger, MD, MHCM, FACS, CEO of University Hospital at Downstate

A Day of Fun at Our 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s

We had a great time at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Korean War Veterans Park last month.

It was a brisk fall day with periods of rain that was spent with family, friends, and colleagues. We met new people from all areas of our community, got some exercise, and helped raise funds for an important cause.

This year, we did not meet our goal, but we worked hard and raised over $11,000 for the Walk. Every dollar that was donated will help the Alzheimer's Association and provide care and support to those facing Alzheimer's and other dementias, as well as fund critical research. 

To support the Alzheimer’s Association and help us reach our goal, click here. Thank you.

Keeping Downstate Safe at the Flu Protection Fair

In October, we held our annual Flu Protection Fair in PHAB Hall for faculty, staff, and students. We would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all the staff who received the flu shot, as it greatly contributes to keeping both us and our patients safe during flu season. Your proactive participation in this important measure is greatly appreciated.

During our three-day Flu Fair, almost 1,200 shots were distributed at Downstate. Our vaccine team did a fantastic job organizing the Flu Protection Fair and ensuring the vaccination process was both swift and seamless. We received numerous compliments on the event's smooth registration process and minimal wait times, making the experience enjoyable and efficient for all. We commend the team on their remarkable achievement and are grateful for their hard work in keeping our community safe.

If you missed the Flu Protection Fair, you can get the shot at our Student Health Center and Employee Health Service (718-270 -1995) or at your local pharmacy. Thank you to everyone involved for keeping our Downstate community safe!

Enjoy some pictures from the Flu Protection Fair below:

Employee of the Month for October 2023

We are pleased to have Bichlien Truong, PharmD, as our Employee of the Month for October. She has been an invaluable asset to UHD for the past 17 years, and her dedication, commitment, and unwavering teamwork have consistently shone through in her work.

Dr. Truong’s dedication to her role as a Pharmacist is truly commendable. She consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic. She has a passion for her job, and a willingness to go above and beyond in all her tasks. Dr. Truong sets a high standard for professionalism and excellence within the Pharmacy Department.

One of the remarkable aspects of Dr. Truong’s contributions is her ability to adapt and step in when the need arises. She has proven her versatility by willingly taking on various roles within the Pharmacy Department. Whether it's filling in for a colleague, overseeing the review of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPNs), staffing in the IV Lab, or assisting with any other task, she consistently excels.

Dr. Truong is an exemplary employee who deserves recognition for her outstanding contributions to our hospital. Her many years of dedicated service, her ability to adapt to various roles, and her unwavering teamwork make her the ideal candidate for our October Employee of the Month.

She truly embodies our WE CARE values and standards of excellence we hold dear at UHD. 

Celebrating Radiology Technologic Week

The Department of Radiology would like to recognize and honor the outstanding contributions made by our radiology technologists day in and day out in delivering the highest quality of imaging care for our patients during Radiology Technologic Week which runs November 5-11, 2023. This year's theme is "Patients are our Passion. Safety is our Priority."