Myrie Family Chooses SUNY Downstate for First Baby
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Aug 7, 2026
BROOKLYN — When State Senator Zellnor Myrie and his wife, former Assembly Member Diana Richardson-Myrie, planned for the birth of their first child, they chose SUNY Downstate’s University Hospital, where the UHD obstetrical team helped the family welcome their daughter, Zenora Diahann Myrie, into the world.
“The birth of a child is one of life’s most meaningful moments, and we are honored that Senator Myrie and his wife, former NY State Assembly Member Diana Richardson-Myrie, chose Downstate to welcome their daughter into the world,” said Wayne J. Riley, M.D., President of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. “Every mother and every baby deserves exceptional, compassionate care, regardless of race, income, or ZIP code. That is the standard we strive to uphold every day. While we celebrate the arrival of baby Zenora, we also remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that all families across Brooklyn have access to safe, equitable, and high-quality maternal care.”
“Of all the decisions we made about our daughter’s birth plan, choosing to deliver at SUNY Downstate was the easiest,” said Senator Myrie, whose Central Brooklyn district includes the hospital. “Black people in Brooklyn face some of the worst health disparities in the state, especially in maternal health, and Downstate’s perinatal center is equipped to provide complex care to newborns and their mothers alike.”
Senator Myrie added, “Downstate has served our community for generations and has supported our neighbors in times of both sorrow and great joy. Downstate is one of the leading teaching hospitals for underrepresented physicians—expanding access while building a healthcare workforce that serves our community and others like it across the country. Central Brooklyn deserves world-class healthcare, and we could not be prouder to welcome another ‘Downstate baby’ into our family.”
“Congratulations to Diana Richardson-Myrie, Senator Zellnor Myrie, and the entire family on the birth of their daughter. SUNY Downstate is an essential healthcare provider and medical professional educational institution for the Brooklyn community and far beyond,’ said John B. King Jr., State University of New York Chancellor. “Through the strong support and historic investment by state officials, including Governor Hochul, the SUNY Board of Trustees, the Legislature, and with the support of community leaders, this institution will be better positioned to support families throughout Brooklyn. Congratulations to the new parents on your growing family, and thank you for choosing SUNY Downstate for this happy occasion”!
“SUNY Downstate provides expectant and new parents with skilled, compassionate care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period,” said Mudar Dalloul, M.D., Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology and Interim Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We thank Senator Myrie and Mrs. Richardson-Myrie for placing their trust in our team. I also thank my colleagues for the outstanding care they provide to Brooklyn families every day.”
About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University is Brooklyn’s academic medical center and the only SUNY academic medical center in New York City. It serves as a critical hub for healthcare delivery, medical education, and research for Brooklyn’s 2.7 million residents.
University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) delivers high-acuity and community-based care across the borough, supported by more than 800 physicians across 53 specialties and subspecialties. UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant care, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis services, and established Brooklyn’s first kidney transplantation program more than 50 years ago.
Downstate strengthens the healthcare workforce and advances community-based care through its academic programs and clinical training. Its biotechnology initiatives, including the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, drive innovation and economic growth across Brooklyn and New York City.