Get READY: Skills That Matter When Seconds Count
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Aug 14, 2026
Would you know what to do if someone stopped breathing, an infant began choking, or
an AED was needed?
As part of its 60th anniversary, the School of Health Professions is launching Downstate READY, a new initiative that provides Downstate employees with practical emergency response skills they can use at work, at home, and in the community.
This fall, SOHP will offer two complimentary workshops with hands-on practice in adult and infant CPR, choking response, and AED awareness. These are preparedness workshops, not CPR certification courses, with an emphasis on helping participants feel more confident about responding in an emergency.
Vikram Pagpatan, OTD, Interim Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, will lead the sessions. Downstate READY grew in part from SOHP’s participation in Downstate’s Community Baby Shower and the School’s interest in sharing its expertise beyond the classroom.
Employees who complete a workshop will receive a School of Health Professions Certificate of Participation.
Save the Dates
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
PHAB Hall A
Friday, November 20, 2026
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
PHAB Hall B
Keep an eye out for registration details, coming soon. Save the date and get READY.
