SUNY Downstate's Infant and Child Learning Center Celebrates Children's Graduation
Aug 6, 2013
Brooklyn – Every year in the spring at graduation ceremonies for its five colleges, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University sends hundreds of dynamic new professionals into the fields of healthcare and science. But each summer, SUNY Downstate also sends some of Brooklyn’s most vulnerable children into the world newly equipped with important skills that they will need to grow into healthy and productive adults.
The occasion for the latter is the annual Graduation Celebration of Downstate’s Infant and Child Learning Center (ICLC), which helps children with special needs overcome obstacles related to developmental delays. ICLC offers programs for children from birth to five years old, both on site and in homes and daycare settings, and works in partnership with parents to achieve the best possible outcome for the child's continuing development.
At the recent ceremony, hosted by ICLC Co-Executive Director Kathy McCormick, MS, LMHC, 55 children graduated from the Center’s preschool program. In the fall many of them will enter kindergarten. In addition, approximately 200 younger children graduated from ICLC's early intervention program and most of them will go on to pre-kindergarten.
Students from all ICLC classes took part in special performances on the stage of Downstate’s Alumni Auditorium, after which they received their diplomas from ICLC Co-Executive Director Joan Hittelman, PhD.
Pauline Foster, whose child graduated from the preschool program, spoke on behalf of the parents, expressing her appreciation for the ICLC personnel. “The staff is very friendly and works as a team.” She added, “They are welcoming and helpful. You can go at any time, and they welcome you with open arms.”
Other speakers included Ian L. Taylor, MD, PhD, senior vice president for biomedical education and research and dean of the College of Medicine; Stanley Fisher, MD, professor and chair of pediatrics; Stephen Goldfinger, MD, professor and chair of psychiatry; and Jacqueline Simms, MS, director of ICLC’s Center Based Programs. Words of appreciation were offered by Ms. McCormick and Dr. Hittelman.
The ICLC is located at 670 Parkside Avenue in Brooklyn.
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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.