About Us

Institute Overview

SUNY Downstate is expanding and renaming the Brooklyn Health Disparities Center to the Brooklyn Health Equity Institute. The Institute will advance partnerships between SUNY Downstate, community partners like the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, and governmental partners such as the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) to address health inequities. Our mission is to achieve health equity in Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond through community-driven research, training, and advocacy.

History and Background

The Brooklyn Health Disparities Center (BHDC) was formed in 2004 as a novel partnership between an academic research institution (Downstate Health Sciences University), a community-based organization (Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health), and a government agency (Office of the Brooklyn Borough President). The partnership was committed to reducing health inequities in Brooklyn and increasing the level of engagement of academics, community members, and policymakers in the process. The Center's inception resulted from recommendations of the "Milano Report" made to the Brooklyn Borough President in 2003. The report "recommends establishing a Brooklyn Institute on Health Disparities that specializes in both research and organizational support."

The Founding Director of BHDC, Dr. Luther T. Clark, secured initial funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to start the center. The Center received additional NIMHD support under the leadership of Dr. Clinton Brown in 2009 and in 2012 under Dr. Moro Salifu.

In 2017, BHDC and SUNY Downstate secured an NIMHD $10M endowment award to establish a new and sustainable Translational Program of Health Disparities Research Training (TRANSPORT). TRANSPORT has focused on recruiting and training health equity scholars at all levels (high school to faculty) from Brooklyn and other communities vulnerable to health inequities.

In July of 2023, Downstate received a second $10M John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Grant to continue the work of TRANSPORT, focusing on recruiting and training health equity researchers from underrepresented groups. The $10M renewal raises the health disparities research endowment to $20M—empowering SUNY Downstate to expand six research training programs and lead four new initiatives to unravel and confront the acute health inequities facing Brooklyn communities.

Expanding from a Center to an Institute

There is a profound and immediate need for targeted health equity research and interventions to ensure all residents of Brooklyn achieve optimal health and well-being. If Brooklyn were a standalone city, it would rank as the fourth largest in the United States. Yet, it lacks a dedicated research institute focused exclusively on health equity. This gap presents not just a challenge for addressing health inequities, but an opportunity that the Brooklyn Health Equity Institute (BHEI) is uniquely positioned to seize.

The transition from the Brooklyn Health Disparities Center to BHEI is not merely a name change but a significant expansion in scope and impact. Unlike centers, which often focus on specific, narrow areas of research or service, institutes encompass a broader scope, integrating multiple disciplines and approaches to tackle complex issues comprehensively. This transition allows for consolidating administrative and staff responsibilities, enhancing efficiency, and fostering a more cohesive strategy. By evolving into an institute, BHDC can leverage greater resources and a wider network of partnerships, facilitating more substantial and sustained interventions to address health inequities in Brooklyn.

BHEI will stand at the convergence point of a multi-sector collaboration, bringing together the expertise of Downstate's faculty, the community-centric approach of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, and the policy influence of governmental partners. This collaborative environment is essential for addressing the complex, multifaceted challenges of health equity.

With an additional $10 million endowment, we are poised to not only continue but also enhance the legacy of the Brooklyn Health Disparities Center. BHEI will introduce innovative programs and partnerships that extend beyond traditional academic boundaries. Initiatives like Community Cafés and Community Connect will focus on building research and grant-focused capacity within community-based organizations, ensuring that our efforts are rooted in the needs and strengths of the communities we serve.