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SUNY Downstate President John LaRosa Endorses Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act

Jan 15, 2010

Proposed Legislation Would Increase Performance and Efficiency of SUNY’s Academic Medical Centers

 

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University President John C. LaRosa, MD, today urged passage of the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act proposed by Governor David Paterson.

“If passed, this legislation will be of enormous benefit to the State University of New York and City University of New York systems, and especially to the four SUNY academic medical centers,” said Dr. LaRosa.

SUNY Downstate is the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, a borough of 2.6 million. Downstate provides critical patient care, advances medical and scientific knowledge, and trains people to enter the health professions. Said Dr. LaRosa, “The legislation proposed by the Governor will significantly improve Downstate’s ability to perform the services the Brooklyn community depends upon.” 

The legislation will provide long overdue relief from burdensome regulations and help campuses with tuition policy, financing, land use, construction, and public-private partnerships. It also will dramatically increase efficiency in operations and procurement. Last, it provides reforms for the three SUNY hospitals that will make it possible for them to provide better patient care.

“Despite SUNY Downstate’s history of success, today’s difficult economic climate poses major challenges,” said Dr. LaRosa. “The Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act is a timely answer to making SUNY and CUNY better equipped to deal with the current economic downturn.”

The legislation will also generate employment. SUNY estimates that the act will create more than 10,000 new jobs statewide and invest over $8.5 in capital construction that will support over 43,700 direct and over 21,800 indirect construction jobs. 

 

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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.