David Christini, Ph.D. Named as SUNY Downstate School of Graduate Studies Dean
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Sep 23, 2024
Dr. Christini holds dual appointment as Dean and Senior Vice President for Research
Brooklyn, NY—SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Downstate) announced the appointment of
David J. Christini, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology & Pharmacology, as the new Dean of the School of Graduate
Studies (SGS). Dr. Christini was SGS Interim Dean for the past two years, leading
several critical initiatives while working closely with faculty and students.
After a comprehensive national search, the committee selected Dr. Christini from an outstanding group of finalists. The Search Committee, composed of faculty and students, was chaired by F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., Dean of Downstate’s College of Medicine.
Dr. Christini will continue as Senior Vice President for Research. This dual appointment reflects the importance of research and graduate training—typical at health sciences institutions. This experience will guide him in shaping the next generation of biomedical scientists.
“Dr. Christini’s leadership in biomedical education and research is unparalleled. His dedication to advancing graduate education and his vision for integrating research and training at Downstate are critical to the continued success of our institution,” said Downstate president Wayne J. Riley, M.D. “I am confident that he will drive innovative programs that will have a lasting impact on our students and the broader scientific community.”
Dr. Christini brings a distinguished graduate education, research, and leadership track record to this role. Some of his noteworthy accomplishments include:
- Serving for six years on the senior leadership team at Weill Cornell Graduate School, with two of those years as Vice Dean.
- Founding and leading the NIH T32-funded Tri-Institutional Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology and Medicine from 2003 to 2019.
- Chairing an NIH NIGMS T32 study section from 2017 to 2020, giving him deep insight into national best practices for biomedical science training.
“Dr. Christini demonstrated exceptional leadership as Interim Dean and vast experience in biomedical science and education make him the ideal choice to guide the School of Graduate Studies to a new era of growth and innovation,” said Dr. Brunicardi. “Our faculty and students will benefit greatly from his leadership. I thank the SGS Search Committee for selecting Dr. Christini as our next academic leader.”
As Interim Dean of SGS, Dr. Christini implemented several key initiatives, including transitioning admissions to the BiomedCAS centralized application system, which tripled applications. He also restructured the SGS administrative team, creating a Career & Professional Development role without expanding the budget. Additionally, he introduced processes to help students complete their PhDs more efficiently, enabling them to enter the workforce more quickly.
“I am excited to enhance the School of Graduate Studies’ strong foundation and develop exceptional leaders in biomedical science,” said Dr. Christini. “I look forward to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and making impactful contributions to the global scientific community.”
Dr. Christini holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Boston University. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University Medical College. In addition to this new role, Dr. Christini will continue serving as Senior Vice President for Research since joining Downstate in 2020, overseeing SUNY Downstate’s broad research strategy and operations. He is also a full, tenured professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
About the SGS Dean Search Committee
Dean Brunicardi chaired the Search Committee that included Taryn Toval-Turpin, MASR, College of Medicine Director of Special Projects, whose exceptional coordination and organizational skills as the administrative lead were instrumental in ensuring the success of this complex and critical search. The following individuals served as members of the committee: Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster, Dr. Kitaw Demissie, Dr. Lori Escallier, Dr. Xian-Cheng Jiang, Dr. Nicholas J. Pennington, Dr. Bernice Porjesz, Dr. Christopher Roman, Dr. Moro Salifu, Elizabeth Smith, Dr. Henri Tiedge, and Dr. Robert Wong for their dedication and contributions. PhD and MD-PhD candidates Ana Mejia-Bautista, Shreya Desikan, Isaac Vingan, and Riley Morrone were crucial in providing their valuable perspectives. They were instrumental in ensuring we select a dean who will inspire and lead the next generation of scholars.
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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.