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SUNY Downstate Medical Center Alumni Association Appoints Kristian R. Balgobin as its New Executive Director

Apr 25, 2018

Kristian R. Balgobin

Brooklyn, NY— The SUNY Downstate Medical Center Alumni Association today announced the appointment of Kristian R. Balgobin as its new Executive Director, succeeding Eric T. Shoen-Ukre. Mr. Balgobin’s appointment reflects SUNY Downstate’s continued dedication to building an administration that reflects the diversity of the community we serve and maintaining an inclusive atmosphere for all of our students.

“Kristian is already known to many of our students, alumni, and colleagues on campus where he has worked in our Alumni Association Office over the past year,” said SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Alumni Association president Suzanne Mirra, MD. “We are confident that Kristian will work effectively with our board, alumni, office staff, and the Downstate community to enhance the support we provide to our medical students including research scholarships, travel grants, and many other benefits.”

Balgobin has worked extensively with nonprofit organizations including the Gender and Sexuality Center; Foundation for Sustainable Development; ALFA Educational Society; and Synergy Today, a group that partners with local nonprofits in New York and Haiti to empower underprivileged youth to reach their goals. As demonstrated by this experience, Balgobin is dedicated to sustainable development, LGBTQ mental health, youth empowerment and Caribbean American lived experiences.

“I am elated to take on this new role with the Alumni Association,” said Mr. Balgobin. “Our Alumni Association is a reflection a variety of voices and experiences represented in the College of Medicine, each committed to the success of all our students, and I look forward to enhancing the medical student experience here at SUNY Downstate.” 

A native of Barbados, Kristian grew up in Brooklyn not far from the SUNY Downstate campus. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of San Francisco. 

About SUNY Downstate Alumni Association - College of Medicine

Established in 1880, the Alumni Association's mission is to promote the interests and improve the effectiveness of the College, to foster fellowship among our alumni, provide financial support and mentoring services for our medical students, and to enhance opportunities to network. The Alumni Association has more than 10,400 members throughout the United States and globally. 

 

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About SUNY Downstate Medical Center

SUNY Downstate Medical Center, founded in 1860, was the first medical school in the United States to bring teaching out of the lecture hall and to the patient’s bedside. A center of innovation and excellence in research and clinical service delivery, SUNY Downstate Medical Center comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, School of Public Health, University Hospital of Brooklyn, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively.

SUNY Downstate ranks twelfth nationally in the number of alumni who are on the faculty of American medical schools. More physicians practicing in New York City have graduated from SUNY Downstate than from any other medical school.