News from the University Hospital at Downstate
May 2026

A Message from Balavenkatesh Kanna, M.D., MPH, FACP, FACHE,
Chief Executive Officer, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD),
Vice President of Hospital Affairs

Becoming CEO and a Patient:  The Beginning of My Journey at Downstate

On March 6, I joined the Downstate team as your Chief Executive Officer of University Hospital at Downstate and Vice President of Hospital Affairs—marking the beginning of my journey at UHD.

To provide a little insight into my previous work experience, I have more than three decades of leadership across academic medicine, safety-net systems, and complex urban hospitals.  I had the recent privilege to serve as Medical Center Director (CEO) of the James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center and have held multiple executive roles at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, in operational, quality, and patient safety advancements while guiding the institution at ground zero of the COVID-19 pandemic.

My very first day at Downstate would leave a lasting impression—not only starting as the CEO, but unexpectedly experiencing firsthand being an inpatient. Through that experience, I am inspired by our staff dedication and compassion that revolves around a patient-centered vision.

I am delighted to be part of a team that remains committed to strengthening a culture of safety and quality, supporting our faculty and staff, with a proven track record in health equity, and deepening engagement with the diverse communities we serve.

With a sense of purpose to drive our organization to becoming the best safety net provider of choice in Brooklyn, I’m gratefully looking ahead to the journey forward—one grounded in trust, accountability, teamwork, and a shared mission to deliver exceptional, patient-centered care for all. I look forward to meeting all of you in the near future and working hand-in-hand to offer the best care and experience possible for our patients.

Celebrating Patient Safety Week in Style at the Patient Safety and Quality Fair

Pediatrics Demonstrates Exceptional Engagement in 2026 Culture of Safety Pulse Survey

Our Department of Pediatrics and their units have successfully completed the 2026 Pulse Culture of Safety Survey, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing patient safety and strengthening our culture of care. Conducted from March 2 through March 30, the survey was administered anonymously and moderated by the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Culture Survey framework.

This year’s initiative—now mandated by CMS and conducted biennially in selected areas—focused on gathering staff perceptions of safety culture across key Pediatrics units, including NS 35, NS 41, NS 42, NS 43, and Suite D. All staff were strongly encouraged to participate, including faculty and members of the Residency Program.

We are proud to report an outstanding level of engagement. Pediatrics achieved a 100% response rate, with participation exceeding expectations. This remarkable turnout reflects the strong dedication of our teams to sharing their voices and contributing to meaningful improvements in patient care and safety.

The Pulse Survey is a critical tool in helping us better understand our strengths and identify opportunities for growth. By ensuring anonymity, encouraging open feedback, and enabling benchmarking across institutions, the survey supports data-driven improvements and the spread of best practices throughout our organization.

Thank you to all who participated in this important initiative. Your voice is essential to shaping a safer environment and advancing the quality of care we provide every day.

Employee of the Month for April 2026 – Steve Martin, LPN

Steve Martin, LPN, is a dedicated Licensed Practical Nurse whose career reflects a strong commitment to compassionate, high-quality patient care. With clinical experience spanning both medical-surgical nursing and specialized neurological care, Steve brings a well-rounded perspective to his role at Downstate.

Steve began his nursing career in 2005 on a fast-paced medical-surgical unit, where he built a solid foundation in patient care, clinical assessment, medication administration, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Working with a diverse patient population, he honed his critical thinking skills while delivering patient-centered care to individuals with a wide range of medical conditions.

After gaining valuable experience in medical-surgical nursing, Steve transitioned to NS 71, the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. In this specialized setting, he plays a key role in caring for patients undergoing evaluation and treatment for seizure disorders. His responsibilities include continuous patient monitoring, seizure observation and documentation, safety management, and supporting patients during diagnostic testing such as continuous EEG monitoring. This experience has deepened his expertise in neurological conditions and strengthened his ability to respond swiftly and effectively during seizure events.

Steve is passionate about providing safe, high-quality care and supporting patients and their families through complex medical experiences. His combined background in general medical-surgical nursing and specialized epilepsy monitoring enables him to deliver thoughtful, comprehensive care. He remains committed to ongoing professional growth and excellence in nursing practice. Kudos to Mr. Martin!

Staff testimonial for Mr. Martin:

I'm writing to recognize Mr. Martin for the amazing job he does in the EMU The other night, one of the patient's studies stopped and Mr. Martin worked for hours, getting it back up and running Then, just prior to his shift ending, he noted an EEG event and asked me to look at it, it was a seizure.

Last night, there were widespread EEG issues, with the patients in stepdown, PICU and MICU, and Mr. Martin travelled to all those units to help get the studies back up and running I don't know another LPN who has set foot off our floor to troubleshoot the issues on studies running on other floors.

Mr. Martin, thank you for your excellent work and dedication to our patients. We are so grateful for you, and so lucky to have you. I'd really like to clone you. Thank you!

UHD Acknowledges

Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month!

To Our UHD Speech Language Pathologists,

Every voice matters! Thank you for your passion,  expertise, and dedication to providing our patients the best care across the lifespan & the ability to connect and be heard!

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