January 2025 Announcements
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Jan 1, 2025
Interim Directors with Payroll & Accounts Payable
Payroll Department
After 35 years of service Yvonne Knight has retired from her position within the Payroll Department. As she was the current Interim Director, Loren Brown has now stepped in and will assume the responsibilities of Payroll Director on an interim basis.
The Payroll Department, through Ms. Brown will report directly to Bernadette Selby.
Please reach-out to the Payroll Department at 718-250-1139 or via email at payroll@downstate.edu; Loren Brown or myself if you have any questions or need assistance.
Accounts Payable
Due to the recent resignation of Surbhi Shah Director of Accounts Payable, Sharon Lutchman will assume the responsibilities of Accounts Payable Director on an interim basis.
The Accounts Payable Department, through Ms. Lutchman will report directly to me.
Please reach-out to the Accounts Payable at 718-270-1993 or via email at APDMC@downstate.edu; Sharon Lutchman or myself if you have any questions or need assistance.
Call for Nominations: 2024-2025 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in the Classified Service
We Need Your Help!
Nominations are invited for the 2024-2025
Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in the Classified Service
Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2025
The SUNY Downstate Selection Committee, chaired by Cheryl Rolston, Chief Nursing Officer,
invites you to nominate Classified Service employees for special recognition by the SUNY Chancellor!
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Member of the Classified Services, i.e. CSEA, PEF, NYSCOPBA or PBA-NYS employee;
- Minimum three (3) continuous years of service;
- Outstanding achievement, skill and commitment to excellence within their role; and
- Demonstrated excellence in activities beyond the scope of their job description.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate creativity and flexibility in performing their duties to meet campus needs, with special consideration given to employees who consistently provide exemplary customer service to students, staff, patients, and other members of the campus community. We are looking for those who go above and beyond!
Nominations must be submitted to your respective Vice President representative by no later than close of business Friday, January 24, 2025.
For more information, please see the attached official poster, guidelines, and nomination form.
Sincerely,
The Selection Committee
P.S. Please print out & display the attached official poster in a conspicuous spot within your department.
Guidelines for Chancellors Awards
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.
Healthstream Learning Management Platform Upgrade: What You Need to Know
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming re-launch of Healthstream, a newly updated campus-wide Learning Management Platform designed to revolutionize how we engage with learning and professional development at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University!
Downstate has been using Healthstream in a limited capacity for the development, assignment, and tracking of specific training requirements, including HIPAA training. Over the last year, Downstate has been working to implement significant changes to this system that will expand the accessibility of this platform for all training across the campus. The upgrade will allow departments to roll-out tailor-made education and training; access, track and monitor real-time progress in a central location; provide supervisors with access to their employees’ outstanding training assignments; and create self-authored content in a variety of formats. The new and improved platform is expected to go live in mid-January!
Key Features:
- User-friendly interface accessible across devices.
- Single sign-on for Downstate network users.
- Centralized library for academic, clinical, and administrative training resources.
- Integrated tools for tracking and reporting to ensure timely completion.
What to Expect:
Starting January 15, 2025, the Downstate community will have access to the newly updated Healthstream platform.
The current system will be unavailable for access beginning at close of business tomorrow, January 3, 2025, and will remain inaccessible through January 14, 2005 as these updates take place.
If you have any outstanding training assignments, please be advised that if the training is not fully complete by COB tomorrow, your progress will likely be lost during the upcoming black-out period and you will need to restart the course from the beginning once the upgrade is complete.
We’re confident that Healthstream will enhance your learning experience and support our collective mission to deliver excellence in education, research, and healthcare.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to compliance@downstate.edu.
We’re excited to embark on this transformative journey with you!
Patient Safety and Quality Fair 2025 Call for Abstracts
Celebrate Patient Safety Week with a project highlighting your patient safety, process improvement, or quality improvement project.
The planning committee will select projects for oral presentation or poster sessions. Prizes will be awarded for top presentations!
Annual Patient Safety and Quality Fair Date: March 13, 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline: January 21, 2025
Abstract Guidelines:
- Select a project completed at Downstate Health Sciences University
- Abstracts should be formatted according to the Downstate WE ACT performance improvement methodology framework.
- Click HERE to submit your abstract
Abstract information sessions are currently being held. If interested, email PatientSafetyFair@downstate.edu.
Abstract Selection Notification: January 27, 2025
Submitting authors will be notified by email. Additional instructions for formatting and presentations will be provided at that time.
2025 Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP)
The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) for 2025 allows eligible SUNY employees to exchange up to eight previously accrued annual leave in return for a biweekly credit that reduces the employee's share of the New York State health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) premium.
Use the PDF forms to apply:
2025 CSEA PEF NYSCOPBA PBANYS PEP Application Memo
2025 UUP MC PEP Application Memo
Announcing A New Downstate-wide Social Media Policy
As social media platforms continue to provide opportunities for communication and engagement, it is important to remind the SUNY Downstate community of our collective responsibility to utilize these tools responsibly.
Accordingly, SUNY Downstate’s newly revised “Responsible Use of Social Media” Policy establishes the standards and expectations to be followed by all faculty, staff, and students.
The complete Policy is now accessible. Below are key highlights.
- Personal Responsibility: If you identify yourself as affiliated with SUNY Downstate on any social media platform, the policy requires you to explicitly state that any views expressed are solely your own and do not reflect the official views of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, University Hospital at Downstate, Downstate Health Physicians, or any SUNY Downstate-affiliated entity.
- Social Media Sites are Public: Always remember that there is no such thing as a “private” social media site, and that what you post can negatively affect your academic progression and future prospects, whether it be through selection for rotations, eligibility for awards, or other recognitions. When concerns about posts or social media activities get raised to the Office of Communications and Marketing and/or the Compliance Line, the campus will duly investigate.
- Respect Privacy: Under no circumstances shall confidential or proprietary information be shared, including patient or student information, unpublished research, financial information, or any content that may violate privacy laws like FERPA or HIPAA.
- Protect the SUNY Downstate Brand: Use of SUNY Downstate’s logo or any affiliated branding is restricted solely to authorized accounts and is subject to explicit approval from the Office of Communications and Marketing. Personal social media accounts are restricted from using Downstate logos as personal identifiers.
- Social Media Administrators (SMA): These individuals must be authorized by their Department Chairs to post and manage the specifically identified social media accounts. SMAs must complete a Social Media Authorization Form to register new and existing accounts with the Office of Communications & Marketing.
Note: All existing SUNY Downstate official social media accounts and handles must be registered with the Office of Communications & Marketing by December 31, 2024. New registrations will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Copyright Compliance: The policy requires individuals to obtain permission before posting any content not already in the public domain to avoid copyright infringement.
SUNY Downstate will take disciplinary action against individuals who violate this policy. By adhering to this policy, you help uphold SUNY Downstate’s shared values and ensure that everyone engages in respectful, compliant, and professional online conduct.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Safety Alert for the Downstate Community
A member of the Downstate community notified the University Police Department (UPD) about an incident on the evening of October 9. An unidentified male reportedly attempted to menace the individual while walking on East 38th Street, between Linden Boulevard and Church Avenue.
In response to this incident, UPD has significantly increased patrols in and around campus to ensure the safety and security of our community.
The safety of members of our community remains our top priority and of utmost importance to UPD. To protect yourself and others, we urge everyone to stay vigilant, particularly when commuting to and from campus. Always be aware of your surroundings, and take precautions to minimize risks.
If you witness suspicious or threatening activity on campus, immediately contact UPD at extension 2626 or from a non-campus phone at (718) 270-2626. For off-campus emergencies, please call 911. Quick reporting can make a critical difference in preventing potential incidents.
We also encourage you to take advantage of UPD’s free shuttle service whenever possible. To remain alert and aware of your environment, avoid distractions such as headphones, mobile phones, or texting while commuting.
For more details about the free UPD Shuttle Service, please visit our website: UPD Shuttle Services.
Stay safe and stay alert. Together, we can maintain a secure campus.
Campus Events and Demonstrations Standards and Procedures
Last academic year, many college and university campuses, including here at Downstate, were the sites of passionate debate. At SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Downstate), events and discussions were peaceful and free of the violence that disrupted many other universities. I want to express my appreciation for the many community members whose leadership made a collective and positive difference.
With the academic year underway, debates over continuing international conflicts will likely amplify, particularly with a closely contested US presidential election. We must ensure that Downstate remains unwaveringly committed to free speech and equally committed to providing everyone in our community with a safe environment free of discrimination.
I am writing to share the Downstate Health Sciences University Campus Events and Demonstrations Standards and Procedures, which clarify rules applicable to demonstrations and other campus events and the consequences for breaking them. This Guide reflects various existing policies. By assembling these policies into a single comprehensive document, we want to make it easier for everyone to become familiar with them, especially our students and faculty.
We have also updated our Policies on Identification Cards, Postings, Camping, and Use of Tents on Campus, and those regarding Freedom of Expression & Assembly for students.
Below is a crucial excerpt from our Guide:
“With these guidelines, we reinforce and reaffirm our commitment to open expression and, at the same time, ensure that protests, demonstrations, and other expressions of free speech are appropriately managed. These guidelines are not about speech content. The guidelines aim to enable free expression while allowing SUNY Downstate to deliver its core missions of teaching, research, service, and patient care without disruption.”
We will consistently enforce these rules in a viewpoint-neutral way. We will resist any efforts of various sides in these debates to win the University’s endorsement of its views.
Some of today’s debates touch on core identity issues and life and death. Many community members have friends or family in harm’s way—in the Middle East, at home, or elsewhere in the world. As a result, even if constitutionally protected, sharp disagreements can feel deeply hurtful and even frightening. The mental health challenges this poses are real, and no one should feel they must face them alone. I encourage anyone who feels they or others might benefit from Downstate’s many support services to reach out for help, and I encourage everyone to be mindful of friends or colleagues who may need support.
For students: Student Counseling, Student Affairs, the University Chaplain’s Office in University Hospital, or the Office of Student Life/Student Center,
For employees: The Employee Assistance Program or the University Chaplain’s Office in University Hospital
Finally, anyone who experiences threatening behavior or other emergencies should contact the University Police Department by calling (718) 270-2626 or by dialing 2626 from any campus phone. To report discrimination or discriminatory harassment, contact the Office of Institutional Equity at AskODI@downstate.edu or call (718) 270-1738.
A step we can all take today to sustain a campus climate of decency, civility, and respect is to familiarize ourselves with the Guide and commit to implementing these policies with collegiality consistent with our values. If we do so, Downstate will provide the welcoming community everyone on our campus deserves.
Thank you for your partnership and for all you do for Downstate.
Payroll and Human Resources Departments Have Moved
We are pleased to announce that the Payroll and Human Resources departments have relocated to our new offices at 271 Lenox Road.
Effective immediately, all payroll and HR-related inquiries will be handled at this new location. Our dedicated staff is ready to assist you with any Payroll or Human Resources needs during our regular business hours (see below for hours).
Please update your records accordingly and feel free to visit us at our new address:
271 Lenox Road,
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(Between Nostrand & Rogers Ave.)
Mail stop numbers are:
MSC#53 (Human Resources)
MSC# 1191 (Benefits)
MSC #10 (Payroll)
For Payroll inquiries, you can email the Payroll Department at Payroll@Downstate.edu or call the Payroll main number: (718) 270-1139. If you need to drop off physical documents to payroll, you may do so during our business hours 10am-3pm.
For Human Resources inquiries, you can email the Department of Human Resources at HumanResources@downstate.edu or call the Human Resources main number: (718) 270-1191. If you need to drop off physical documents to Human Resources, you may do so during our normal business hours: 8am-5pm.
Thank you.
Research Study for Psoriasis
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.
Gift Shop January 2025 Promotions
Gift Shop - located at the University Hospital Main Lobby at 445 Lenox Rd
We welcome Jasmin Ortiz as our new store manager! Stop by to say hello and see our recent store improvements!
Phone (718) 270-1713
Hours: Mon – Fri, 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Upcoming Events
Join Us in Celebrating the Memory of Bertha Hare
Friday, January 17, 2025
6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Lenox Road Baptist Church
SOHP Dean's Lecture Series - 5th Edition for Academic Year 2024-2025: "DISABILITY 101 FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS"
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
5:00 PM
Save the Date! SUNY Downstate Disability Awareness Conference
Thursday, January 23, 2025
PHAB A & B
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
You can also join us live on YouTube here
Disability is a concept often misunderstood by both the public and healthcare providers, leading to gaps in services to individuals with disabilities. In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 people live with a disability, according to recent CDC data. This conference aims to (1) increase awareness of current efforts at Downstate related to disability and (2) explore contemporary perspectives on disability, promoting better understanding and service delivery.
Opening Remarks (1:00-1:05pm) – Jamie Grecco, JD, Senior Vice President/Chief of Staff
Definition and Models of Disability (1:05-1:20pm) - Dr. Allen Lewis, School of Health Professions (SOHP) Dean
Attitudes: Reframing Perspectives in Service Delivery (1:20-1:45pm) - Dr. Brigitte Desport, SOHP Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives
Interventions to Improve Individual Functioning with Disability: Restoration vs. Adaptation (1:45-2:00pm) - Dr. Allen Lewis, SOHP Dean
What is Happening at Downstate Related to Disability (2:00-3:00pm) (Representatives from Physical Therapy - Dr. Puneet Dhaliwal, Assistant Professor; Occupational Therapy – Dr. Vikram Pagpatan, Assistant Professor and Admissions Coordinator; Applied Behavior Analysis – Dr. Jason Vladescu, Chair of ABA program; Department of Psychiatry - Dr. Jeremy Copland; Leadership Education Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) grant/COM/Pediatrics – Dr. Harris Huberman; Human Resources – Zachery Durkin, MSM, Assistant Director of the Office of Employee and Labor Relations; and Office of Student Affairs – Patricia Napolitano, MS Ed, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs; Moderator - Dr. Efekona Nuwere, Chair of SOHP Occupational Therapy Program [15 minutes for Q&A]
Each panelist has 5 minutes maximum to (a) introduce yourself and (b) state how disability relates to the area/unit/division you represent. The moderator will introduce the panel topic, ensure each panelist only uses 5 minutes, and facilitate any Q&A that ensues after the final panelist speaks.
Break (3:00-3:15pm)
Contemporary Perspectives on Disability (3:15-4:15pm) (Dr. John O'Neill - Director of the Kessler Foundation for Rehabilitation Research and Employment in NJ; Dr. Susanne Bruyere - Academic Director of the Yang and Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, Cornell University in Ithaca, NY; Self-advocate Perspective - Mabel Martinez-Almonte, OTR/L, MA., MHC, NCC, CFPS, CYMHS, ECDCS, MHFA for Adults and Children - The Mental Health Taskforce, NYSOTA Community of Practice; Family Member Perspective - Dr. Shushawna DeOliveira, SOHP Associate Dean for Program Operations and Quality; Moderator: Dr. Allen Lewis, SOHP Dean [15 minutes for Q&A]
Each panelist has 10 minutes to (a) introduce yourself and (b) discuss your key contemporary perspective on disability. The moderator will introduce the panel topic, ensure each panelist only uses 10 minutes, and facilitate any Q&A that ensues after the final panelist speaks.
Closing Remarks and Next Steps (4:15-4:30pm) - Dr. Allen Lewis, SOHP Dean
*Conference sponsored by the Downstate Office of Marketing and Communications and the School of Health Professions
Check back for regular updates to this page!
* New information highlighted in yellow *