SUNY Downstate Infectious Disease Specialist Jack DeHovitz, M.D. To Advise State Board Of Regents On Risks In Reopening Schools
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Jun 9, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: John Gillespie | john.gillespie@downstate.edu | (314) 708-90909
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (June 9, 2020) – The New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department have appointed SUNY Downstate Distinguished Service Professor and Infectious Disease Specialist Jack DeHovitz, M.D., MPH, FACP, to advise the Regional School Reopening Task Force meetings on the of the health and safety risks associated with the planned reopening of New York’s schools.
Dr. DeHovitz is a Professor of Medicine and Director of SUNY Downstate’s acclaimed STAR Program (Special Treatment and Research). He recently co-authored a study of the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for the treatment of COVID-19.
Dr. DeHovitz will provide a presentation on the health and safety risks of reopening schools at each of four Regional Task Force meetings, where the Board of Regents will gather input from more than 200 stakeholders in each region as they develop a framework for reopening schools.
“As we continue to consider what our educational communities will look like next school year, our paramount concern is to ensure the health and safety of children and adults in our schools,” said New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa in a news release. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed firsthand the inequity in educational opportunities and resources available to our children and we will keep educational equity at the forefront of our decision-making.”
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health have made data-driven decisions that protect the health and safety of the public,” said Dr. DeHovitz. “I am honored to contribute in this public health emergency by providing the best data possible to inform the decisions of the Board of Regents in reopening our schools.”
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is the borough’s only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care, and is a 342-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of New York City, and Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents. University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) is Downstate’s teaching hospital, backed by the expertise of an outstanding medical school and the research facilities of a world-class academic center. More than 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties—many of them ranked as tops in their fields—comprise Downstate's staff.
A regional center for cardiac care, neonatal and high-risk infant services, pediatric dialysis, and transplantation, Downstate also houses a major learning center for children with physical ailments or neurological disorders. In addition to UHB, Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu or follow us on Twitter at @sunydownstate.