New Study Highlights Advancement of Equitable Maternal Care At University Hospital At Downstate
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Feb 26, 2024
UHD Recognized For A Continued Commitment To Reducing Maternal Health Disparities Through Its “Community-Engaged Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy” Multidisciplinary Workgroup
BROOKLYN, NY – SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University today announced that University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) was recognized for its continued commitment to improving maternal health outcomes as part of its work on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The study, conducted by Essential Hospitals Institute, recognized UHD’s favorable outcomes in maternal care alongside 11 other members of America’s Essential Hospitals, including Georgetown University’s MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Brown University’s Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.
The study, which included grants for 12 members of America’s Essential Hospitals, focused on creating new or expanding existing initiatives to improve obstetric outcomes for Black birthing through community outreach and education. UHD was selected as the sole participant in New York State because of its service to a community with a significant number of at-risk patients. The study was conducted through UHD’s “Community-Engaged Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy” multidisciplinary workgroup.
“This study underscores our unwavering commitment to serving the Downstate community. We value opportunities to apply new research into our practices, and through study, we identified areas ripe for improvement,” said UHD chief executive officer David H. Berger, M.D., MHCM, FACS.
University Hospital ay Downstate has over 250,000 patient visits annualy with more than 100 community-based volunteer service projects, free screenings, and health lectures through the Center for Community Health Promotion and Wellness. The institution offers medical training across five schools and colleges, training nearly 2,000 students a year, a majority of whom are people of color.
The Chair for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Downstate, Camille A. Clare, M.D., MPH, CPE, FACOG, said “We prioritize education as the cornerstone of our efforts, recognizing its pivotal role in raising awareness about racial disparities within medicine. UHD remains resolute in its commitment to supporting minoritized communities and cultivating inclusivity within the healthcare landscape.”
The full study can be accessed HERE.
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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.