SUNY Downstate Recognizes Accomplishments of 2018 Graduates
May 29, 2018
Brooklyn, NY— SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University held its 51st Commencement Ceremonies on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. At the ceremony, SUNY Downstate President, Dr. Wayne J. Riley conferred a total of 679 degrees to students from Downstate’s College of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, School of Public Health, College of Nursing, and the College for Health-Related Professions—advancing one of the most distinguished and diverse student bodies in Downstate history and throughout higher education in health and medicine, nationally.
“As I reflect on your achievements, I can’t help but well up with pride. This is a monumental moment for each of you—SUNY Downstate has prepared you for this important phase of your professional lives, but your role at students should not end on this campus,” said Wayne J. Riley, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University president in his remarks to graduates. “I implore each of you to remain eternally committed to researching, studying, and learning every inch about the ever-evolving world of health, so that you may transform your knowledge into the kind of power that has potential to make a real difference in people lives, here and around the world.”
“Always remember that each of you have important and significant contributions to make, and that you join the thousands of Downstate graduates who have dedicated their lives to providing care for those in need. You have all the tools necessary for making our communities, our state, and our nation healthier— and I have full faith each of you will be part of the solution, not only in your day, but for future generations to come."
This year’s commencement ceremonies marked a number of great achievements, both for SUNY Downstate and its graduates. The Class of 2018 represents one of the most diverse student bodies in SUNY Downstate history, with more than 50 percent of its graduates coming from communities of color. Following the ceremony, newly-graduated medical student Juliette Marie Conte joined a distinguished group of Downstate alums as she was sworn in to the US Army from the rank lieutenant to captain. SUNY Downstate College of Medicine also graduated Dr. Brian Ghezelaiagh, the first-ever legally-blind doctor in Downstate’s 158-year history.
Of the 679 conferred degrees, 170 graduates earned their Bachelor of Science degrees, with the remaining 509 earning advanced degrees in nursing, medicine, physical therapy, and applied sciences. A breakdown of conferred degrees is below:
College of Medicine
Medical Doctorate, M.D.— 206 degrees conferred.
School of Graduate Studies
Doctor of Philosophy—7 degrees conferred
School of Public Health
Advanced Certificate in Public Health— 24 degrees conferred.
Master of Public Health— 80 degrees conferred.
Doctor of Public Health— 6 degrees conferred.
College of Nursing
Bachelor of Science— 111 degrees conferred.
Master of Science— 99 degrees conferred.
Advanced Certificate— 2 degrees conferred
College for Health-Related Professions
Bachelor of Science— 59 degrees conferred.
Master of Science— 73 degrees conferred.
Doctor of Physical Therapy—19 degrees conferred.
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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.