Jameela J. Yusuff, M.D. Appointed as First Woman Chief Medical Officer at University Hospital at Downstate
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Apr 1, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Dawn S.Walker | dawn.walker@downstate.edu | M: (917) 439-9666
Brooklyn, NY (April 1, 2021) – SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University announced Jameela J Yusuff, M.D., MPH, MSHCDL, FACP as the first woman Chief Medical Officer at the University Hospital of Brooklyn.
Dr. Yusuff will drive efforts to implement state-of-the-art credentialing processes,
new patient safety oversight protocols, and forward-looking outcome and quality management
standards in her new role. Currently, Dr. Yusuff will leave her position as Medical
Director of Downstate's Special Treatment and Research (STAR) Program after more than eight years. Dr. Yusuff also has a faculty appointment as an Associate
Professor in the College of Medicine.
"Dr. Yusuff's appointment as Chief Medical Officer is a proud moment in our history
as she becomes the first woman CMO at Downstate," said SUNY Downstate president Wayne J. Riley, M.D. "She will be an excellent addition to our executive leadership team and a tremendous
role model for women, especially those interested in the medical field. Dr. Yusuff
understands our patient population and is sensitive to their needs which are both
critical to providing the most effective care and to enhancing patient satisfaction."
"I look forward to collaborating with senior leadership and our physician colleagues
to address the converging issues of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, longstanding health
disparities, and provider burnout while advancing a culture of quality and safety,"
said Dr. Jameela J. Yusuff. "As a descendant of Guyanese immigrants, I am very connected to the patient population we serve in Central Brooklyn.
Here at SUNY Downstate, we are perfectly poised to make an impact in the community
on these critical issues."
Dr. Yusuff began working at SUNY Downstate in 2006 as a clinician for the STAR Program
she would eventually lead as its Medical Director. She has championed various academic
and clinical initiatives, including achieving and maintaining the National Committee for Quality Assurance's Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition, SUNY Downstate's Organizational HIV Care
Cascade, and overseeing the Internal Medicine HIV Residency and Physician Assistant
Residency Tracks.
Dr. Yusuff received her Medical Degree and her Masters' in Healthcare Delivery Leadership
from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and her Master's in Public Health
from the SUNY Downstate School of Public Health. She is also board certified in both
infectious diseases and addiction medicine.
Dr. Yusuff has received several awards, including the JetBlue Healthcare Heroes Award,
the SUNY Downstate Award of Excellence, and the Best Capstone Award from the Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Yusuff was recently recognized as a Certified
Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and
a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) by the National Association
of Healthcare Quality.
Dr. Yusuff currently serves on the National Quality Forum's Opioid and Behavioral
Health Committee and on the board of Comunlife, a non-profit organization that provides
housing to vulnerable populations. She chairs the SUNY Downstate Faculty and Professional
Staff Personnel Policies, Promotions, and Appointments Committee and is a member of
the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American College of Physicians, as
well as the American Medical Association. Dr. Yusuff will begin her new position on
April 4.
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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.