Public Health Great Donald A. Henderson and Nursing Research Leader Patricia Grady to Speak at Commencement
Apr 23, 2008
Brooklyn, NY - Public health pioneer Donald A. Henderson, MD, MPH, who directed the successful global campaign to eradicate smallpox, and Patricia Grady, PhD, RN, director of the National Institute of Nursing Research, will be the speakers at commencement ceremonies of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan.
Dr. Henderson will speak at the ceremony for the College of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, and Graduate Public Health Program at 4:00 pm and Dr. Grady will speak at the ceremony for the College of Nursing and School of Health Professions at 12:00 noon.
Dr. Grady will be awarded an honorary doctor of science degree for her contributions to research and nursing education. Lily S. Hsia, retired professor and chair of midwifery at the School of Health Professions, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of achievements in midwifery education and her service to SUNY Downstate.
At the later ceremony, honorary doctor of science degrees will be awarded to Joseph E. Murray, MD, who conducted the world’s first successful kidney transplant in 1954 and won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1990, and to Marc Goldstein, MD, a 1972 graduate of Downstate’s College of Medicine who is a pioneer in male reproductive surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
Dr. Henderson, who already holds an honorary degree from the State University of New York and many other schools, will receive SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University's Ailanthus Award.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.