News from the University Hospital at Downstate
May 2024

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

Downstate Health Receives Federal Funding to Enhance Maternal and Child Healthcare

We recently announced that Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have secured $2.7 million in federal funding to support Downstate’s Central Brooklyn Comprehensive Maternal and Child Health Network. The Congressionally Directed Spending will be used to develop a new Women’s Health, Pediatric and Birthing Center close to UHD. This center is a 10,000 square foot clinic in Crown Heights intended to provide comprehensive primary and specialty healthcare to vulnerable and low-income populations in Brooklyn.

Central Brooklyn is the epicenter of the maternal health crisis in New York City. Women with the highest rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), considered “near misses” to maternal death, are Black immigrants concentrated in Central Brooklyn. In addition, women who lack adequate care throughout pregnancy and postpartum have a higher risk of severe maternal adverse events and death.

According to the NYC Health Department, there is a significant and pronounced Black-white maternal mortality gap in New York City. On average, the maternal mortality rate is 9.4 times higher for Black birthing persons compared to white counterparts.

The new state-of-the-art health center will have the capacity to provide care to 400 pregnant people and 15,000 outpatient visitors annually as the only birthing center in Brooklyn aiming to decrease disparate maternal and infant mortality rates. Beyond providing a safe, non-hospital setting for labor and delivery, the building will house lab testing facilities, counseling services, cancer screenings, and routine primary care providers. UHD intends to use this opportunity additionally to employ local community health workers to strengthen outreach and engagement in the neighborhood.

UHD has a history of investing in equitable maternal care through its “Community Engaged Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy” multidisciplinary workgroup, and has previously received funding from America's Essential Hospitals to address Black maternal mortality and morbidity.

Susan Fraser McCleary Receives Scholarship for the 2024 ACHE Executive Program in the Clinical Executive Cohort

Late last month, it came to our attention that our very own Susan Fraser-McCleary, BSN, RN, LCSW, CCM, Assistant Vice President of Care Coordination, was awarded a scholarship to participate in the 2024 American College for Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Executive Program in the Clinical Executive Cohort. We are pleased to acknowledge and congratulate her on this fantastic achievement.

The ACHE is an organization that has been around for over 90 years and has over 48,000 members. Their objective strives for the success of their members and commitment to improving healthcare in our communities. The sessions for the ACHE Executive Program in the Clinical Executive Cohort start this June and will last four months.

The ACHE Executive Program is a unique learning experience that supports professional development and organizational goals for healthcare leaders. This is a three-part program that will provide exceptional education including panel discussions, professional leadership assessments, and individualized coaching/career advising sessions combined with site visits to several healthcare organizations.

We are so proud of Susan and very excited for her to take part in the ACHE Executive Program!

Featuring Our Employee Volunteer of the Month for April 2024

Shakila Cantebury is employed through our Work Learn and Grow Employment Program here at UHD in the Department of Patient Relations. She is a driven and accomplished high school student whose academic excellence and dedication to extracurricular activities led to her acceptance into 33 prestigious colleges and universities.

Ms. Cantebury attends Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy (BELA) in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn and her prospective major is Political Science with a minor in Communications Studies. Shakila was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She has always exhibited a passion for learning. Throughout her High School years, Shakila maintained a stellar GPA while earning recognition for her academic achievements.

Beyond the classroom, Shakila Cantebury has actively participated in a variety of activities demonstrating her leadership skills and commitment to personal growth. She is a key member of the Student Government, Student Ambassador, and SEO (Seizing Every Opportunity) clubs where she has contributed her gifts, talents, and abilities.

Shakila stated that she aspires to attend law school and pursue a career centered around Social Justice and advocacy for black and brown individuals. Some of her hobbies include poetry, volunteering, reading, and listening to music.

Shakila Cantebury is excited and is looking forward to her new journey to see where the next four years take her. Thank you for all that you have done for the hospital and we are really looking forward to hearing about all of your wonderful accomplishments in the future.