February 2025 Announcements
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Feb 1, 2025
Information Security Advisory: MAC Computers Management - Your Action is Required
Dear Colleagues,
As part of our commitment to maintaining the security of our organization’s data, to comply with multiple SUNY Downstate policies, and regulatory compliance requirements, all Downstate owned Apple computers will be managed by the Downstate centralized management solution. (No personal Apple devices would be affected)
This solution will be utilized to protect our users and data, ensure the operating system is up to date, and assure all required software and security updates.
Please follow the instructions below:
Register Today For An Upcoming AVERT Active Shooter Training
AVERT, short for Active Violence Emergency Response Training goes beyond active shooter training by teaching emergency bleeding control techniques, warning signs of a potential aggressor, quick response in a violent situation, escape, evade, or attack in critical seconds during an event, and staff confidence needed to respond. University Hospital at Downstate is now a training center with 14 certified instructors that includes staff from Emergency Management, University Police, the HAZMAT team, and the ED.
Please RSVP by using the link below to register for an upcoming Active Shooter Training:
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- Event Address: University Hospital at Downstate
- Exact location will be emailed after registration is complete
- For more information, contact Jennifer Guzman at Jennifer.Guzman@downstate.edu
- Register for an upcoming event here:
Pre-Retirement Planning Winter Webinars
The attached is an announcement regarding OER’s DIRECTIONS: pre-retirement planning webinar which has been developed to assist eligible New York State employees in planning for one of the most challenging and exciting periods in life – retirement! Therefore, please post and announce this webinar to eligible staff on your campuses.
The following link provides additional registration information including dates/times and subject matter(s) to be covered: https://oer.ny.gov/directions-pre-retirement-planning-webinar
- Please note that the SUNY ORP retirement plan is not specifically covered in these webinar sessions, but there are other sessions (i.e. NYSHIP retiree coverage) that are still beneficial to SUNY ORP members.
Laser, Aesthetic, and Body Institute at Downstate Health
Cardiovascular Summer Institute at SUNY Downstate
The Cardiovascular Summer Institute is a research career advancing opportunity sponsored
by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) since 2006 at the State University
of New York Downstate Health Sciences University at Brooklyn, NY. This mentored research
program addresses the difficulties experienced by junior investigators in establishing
independent research programs and negotiating through the academic ranks. The desired
outcome is to accelerate the path to becoming independent investigators and improve
the recruitment and retention of faculty with interest in cardiovascular health disparities.
Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Summer Institute provides an intensive didactic and mentored research training program in cardiovascular health disparities, grantsmanship, and career development skills. The goal of this multidisciplinary research training program is to inspire scholars to conduct research in cardiovascular health disparities by employing multimodal techniques at the forefront of the field.
The most recent evaluations of this program outcomes are remarkable and shows that 1) over 66% of our mentees secured peer-reviewed grants, 2) 35% and 27% were promoted from Assistant to Associate or Full Professor, respectively and 3) the number of publications quadrupled post-graduation from our Summer Institute. (Boutjdir, M., Aromolaran, A. S., de Las Fuentes, L., Boyington, J. E. A., Arteaga, S. S., Jobe, J., Jeffe, D. B., Rao, D. C., Rice, T. K., & Davila-Roman, V. G. (2019). Research Education and Mentoring Program in Cardiovascular Diseases for Under-Represented Junior Faculty From NHLBI SIPID/PRIDE. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 73(14), 1861–1865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.01.042)
I am writing to you today on behalf of the Cardiovascular Summer Institute Director, Dr. Mohamed Boutjdir, to announce that our program is open for applications, and we are currently recruiting only 8 scholars for Summer 2025’s (June 16th to June 27th) Cohort 12 on a rolling admission basis. I have attached our brochure which has more details about our program. I appreciate sharing it with any of your Junior Faculty and colleagues who may benefit from this program.
Please do not hesitate to contact Michael Cupelli (michael.cupelli@downstate.edu) with any questions.
2025 TRANSPORT Junior Faculty Training Program
We are pleased to share information about the 2025 TRANSPORT Junior Faculty Training Program, an enriching opportunity designed to support junior faculty in their academic and research careers. This year-long program provides didactic courses in:
- Community-based participatory research
- Study design, working with and presenting data
- Research ethics and grantsmanship skills
- Academic career development
Program Details:
- Duration: One-year training program (2025–2026)
- Summer 1 Session: June 16 – June 27, 2025
- Summer 2 Session: Includes NIH mock study section in Summer 2026
- Research Support: Up to $15,000
- Mentorship: Participants will work closely with mentors throughout the year
Eligibility:
- Open to junior faculty at the Assistant Professor level
- Individuals in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences are encouraged to apply
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The application deadline is March 1, 2025, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
We kindly request your assistance in sharing the attached flyer with faculty members
who may benefit from this valuable opportunity. The application link is included in
the flyer:
Apply Here.
If applicants have any questions or need additional details, they can feel free to contact Lakia Maxwell at lakia.maxwell@downstate.edu, mentioning "2025 TRANSPORT JUNIOR FACULTY" in the subject line.
We appreciate your support in helping us reach potential applicants and fostering professional development within our faculty community.
2025 Transition to Academic Careers (TRACS) Program
We are excited to invite applications for the 2025 Transition to Academic Careers (TRACS) Program, a one-year paid research training opportunity designed to strengthen the research capacity of students in biomedicine and public health as they transition to the next stage of their careers.
About TRACS
TRACS provides scholars with rigorous research training under the guidance of experienced mentors. Participants will contribute to ongoing research projects and scientific publications, enhancing their competitiveness for residency, post-doctoral training, or doctoral program applications.
Program Details
📅 Program Dates: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
💰 Stipend: $25,000 (distributed quarterly)
⌛ Time Commitment: 20 hours per week for one year
🏛️ Sponsored by: NIMHD (Grant #2S21MD012474-06)
Eligibility Requirements
✔ U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
✔ A current student in a pre-doctoral program (e.g., DrPH, MD, PhD, DNP) or in a gap year preparing to apply to a doctoral program
✔ Demonstrated interest in public health, community-based, clinical, and translational research
✔ Good academic standing
How to Apply
📌 Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Submit one PDF file with the subject line "TRACS" to Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu, including:
✅ Cover Letter (max 500 words) outlining career goals, research interests, prior experience, and
how TRACS will support future plans
✅ Curriculum Vitae (CV)
✅ Unofficial Transcript with course listings
✅ One Letter of Recommendation
This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, enhance your academic profile, and prepare for the next steps in your career. If you have any questions, please email Lakia Maxwell at Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu with the subject line: "TRACS Program Inquiry."
Apply Now – 2025 CREST Phase II Pilot Grant Award for Clinical Research Scientists
We are excited to announce the 2025 Clinical Research Training Program (CREST) Phase II Pilot Grant Award, an opportunity for clinical fellows and junior faculty to advance their research careers while addressing health disparities in Brooklyn.
About the Program:
The CREST Phase II program provides pilot award funding of up to $50,000 to support mentored clinical and translational research projects. This funding will serve as a catalyst for generating preliminary data that can be used for future NIH funding applications (K or R series awards).
Key Program Details:
✅ Up to 4 pilot grants will be awarded for a 12-month research period
✅ Research must align with the CREST goal of reducing health disparities and promoting health equity
✅ Areas of focus include health services research, translational science, community-engaged research, implementation
science, and public health
✅ Funded projects are expected to lead to peer-reviewed publications and NIH grant applications
Who Can Apply?
✔ Clinical fellows and junior faculty (within seven years of their first faculty appointment)
✔ Must hold a clinical doctorate degree (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, DNP, PhD with clinical responsibilities)
✔ Must have prior research training OR have completed CREST Phase I
✔ Must have a CREST mentor at SUNY Downstate (mentors outside the institution are also encouraged)
How to Apply:
🔹 Letter of Intent Deadline: February 28, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Submit to Lakia Maxwell (Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu) with:
- Descriptive title of your study
- PI’s name, address, and contact information
- Names of your Primary Mentor and other key personnel
- Short Abstract (up to 500 words)
- NIH Biosketch (up to 5 pages)
🔹 Full Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 (for selected applicants)
Selection Criteria:
A peer-review committee will evaluate applications based on:
✔ Significance and feasibility of the research question
✔ Scientific rigor and approach
✔ Qualifications of the investigator and mentor
✔ Plans for obtaining extramural funding
We encourage eligible candidates to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to advance their research careers while making a lasting impact on health equity.
If you have any questions, please email Lakia Maxwell at Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu with the subject line: "2025 CREST Phase II Pilot Grant Award."
Upcoming Events
WellNYS Daily To-Do and Frontline Newsletter for February 2025
February is American Heart Month! Take care of your heart......
EAP Frontline Newsletter: Please take a moment to read the February 2025 EAP Frontline Newsletter. This month's edition offers a variety of insightful reads, "Prevent Cultural Miscommunication" and "Wake Up Feeling Refreshed". Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and nurture your personal growth.
WellNYS Daily To-Do for February: WellNYS Every day is a wellness initiative dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering New York State employees to engage in healthy behaviors. Please join us for a webinar and learn how to "Unlock Success with Tracking Behaviors" on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Noon. Click here to register. See attached flyer to register for the webinar and tracking sheet! If you missed last months WellNYS Everyday Wellness Webinar, please click here:
Mental Health in the Winter Months: As the winter months bring colder weather and shorter days, it’s important to prioritize your mental well-being. There is simple yet effective strategies to boost your mood and energy, including staying active, getting fresh air and sunlight, connecting with others, practicing self-care, and trying new activities. I encourage seeking support if needed. Remember, you’re not alone—help is available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you ever need it.
Mental Health in the Winter Months
Self-Care at Work: Taking care of yourself during the workday is essential for maintaining focus, reducing stress, and staying productive. Here are some easy, practical self-care strategies that require little time, but can make a big difference. Tips include keeping your workspace tidy, having healthy snacks on hand, practicing good posture and stretching, protecting your eyes from screen fatigue, and setting boundaries to manage productivity. Remember, self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Start small and build a routine that helps you stay energized and balanced throughout your day!
Let's take advantage of these resources to enhance our well-being and create a Healthier U........
For more information, please contact Magda Alliancin, EdD, magda.alliancin@downstate.edu.
Corebridge Financial
2025 Meeting Calendar Update
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Now is a great time to take action for your financial future
Schedule a time to meet to make sure you’re on track for the retirement you want.
When we meet, we can discuss:
- The benefits of enrolling in your workplace retirement plan
- How to boost your overall financial wellness
- The resources available to help shape the future you want
- Your broader financial goals so we can put a plan in place to help you get there
We can meet in-person at any time that is convenient to you.
Schedule time to meet with me IN-PERSON today!
Dates:
Tuesday, 1/21/25
Tuesday, 2/4/25
Tuesday, 2/25/25
Wednesday, 3/12/25
Tuesday, 3/25/25
Time:
7:30 am – 2:00 p.m.
Location:
Downstate Student Library - 1st Floor (Lenox Entrance)
VIRTUAL MEETING DAYS:
Mondays: 1/13/25, 1/20/25, 1/27/25, 2/17/2025
Tuesday: 1/28/25,
Thursdays: 1/9/2025, 1/16/25, 1/23/25, 2/20/25
Join Us for Downstate Goes Red For Women Group Photo Shoot!
Friday, February 7, 2025
12:00 PM (SHARP)
The Atrium
in front of the Alumni Auditorium
Make an Appointment for Our Blood Drive
Monday, February 10, 2025
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Student Center
SOHP Dean's Lecture Series - 5th Edition for Academic Year 2024-2025:
"DISABILITY 101 FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS"
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
5:00 PM
Second Public Hearing for a Stronger Downstate
February 27, 2025
6:00 PM
Medgar Evers College - Founders Auditorium
The second of three public hearings of Governor Kathy Hochul’s Downstate Community Advisory Board (DCAB) will be held on Thursday, February 27 at 6 PM to discuss the financial health, sustainability, and future of University Hospital at Downstate.
This hearing will be held at Medgar Evers College, Founders Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225, on February 27, 2025 from 6 PM - 9 PM.
For those wishing to participate, please fill out the form to submit your written feedback or if you wish to speak at the hearing by clicking HERE or e-mail publichearing@adenaconsultinggroup.com.
To learn more about the Downstate Community Advisory Board, click here.
Check back for regular updates to this page!
* New information highlighted in yellow *