SUNY Downstate

21/04/2026

This week (April 19–25, 2026), we proudly celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!

From laboratory technologists and technicians to phlebotomists and pathologists, these professionals play a critical role in patient care—often behind the scenes. Their expertise ensures the accurate diagnostic results that guide prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.

At our University Hospital at Downstate, our clinical teams depend on the skill and dedication of our laboratory staff every single day.

In this special video, we take a closer look at the important work of our Lab Team and celebrate their contributions.

Please join us in thanking Downstate’s outstanding laboratory professionals—your work truly makes a difference!



Click below:

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2026: A Closer Look at Our Lab Team at Downstate

21/04/2026

New research from SUNY Downstate sheds light on breast cancer development.

A study in iScience reveals that BC200 RNA can disrupt the critical BRCA1 gene, increasing DNA damage and tumor growth—even in patients without genetic mutations.

This breakthrough highlights a promising new therapeutic target and the power of academic–biotech collaboration with Mirimus, Inc.



Cliock below for full press release:

The SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading urban medical centers, serving the people of Brooklyn since 1860.

21/04/2026

JOIN US: Make an Appointment for Our Blood Drive on April 27 & 28
Click below next to the speciifed date to pick a time to donate. Thank you.
April 27: https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/328888
April 28: https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/328885

17/04/2026

April is Arab American Heritage Month—a time to celebrate the lasting impact Arab Americans have made across our nation.

From healthcare and education to the arts, research, and public service, Arab Americans have shaped communities through resilience, innovation, and a commitment to collective well-being.

At Downstate, we are proud to recognize the contributions of Arab American healthcare professionals, scholars, and staff who strengthen our mission every day. We also acknowledge the importance of addressing barriers to care—such as cultural stigmas, language differences, and limited data—to ensure more equitable and inclusive healthcare for all.

Join us this month in celebrating Arab American heritage and honoring the cultures, histories, and contributions that enrich our communities.

15/04/2026

The April 14, 2026 Edition of the President's Bulletin, is now LIVE! Don't forget to check out the latest in , , and Downstate news! CLICK LINK BELOW to READ MORE!

13/04/2026

🚨 FREE Health Screening Opportunity 🚨

For Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, our Department of Otolaryngology is offering a FREE Head & Neck Cancer Screening on April 16, 2026!

🕣 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 470 Clarkson Ave, Suite H

No insurance? No problem. Walk-ins are welcome!

If you or a loved one have symptoms like:
• Trouble swallowing
• Persistent sore throat
• Voice changes
• Lumps in the neck or face

—or risk factors like to***co, alcohol use, or HPV—this screening is an important step.

💙 Early detection saves lives. Spread the word!

Click here ot register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzcoZLx9d8FZWEP2kwiIZlpQ180ei6YknLdzlZKdhpHpY3cA/viewform?pli=1

09/04/2026

This April, we celebrate Occupational Therapy Month and the incredible Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) across the Downstate community.

Occupational therapy helps people live fuller, more independent lives—whether that means returning to work, rebuilding daily routines, or reconnecting with meaningful activities. OTs take a whole-person approach, supporting the mind, body, and environment.

Their impact is especially powerful in recovery and pediatric care, where they help patients regain independence and children build essential life skills.

To our clinicians, faculty, students, and alumni—thank you for the compassion, expertise, and dedication you bring to every patient you serve. 💙

06/04/2026

This week (April 6–12, 2026), communities across the country come together to observe National Public Health Week—a time to recognize the critical role of public health in shaping healthier futures for all.

From climate action and health equity to advocacy and strengthening the public health workforce, this week highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities in the field.

At Downstate’s School of Public Health, we are proud to lead in education, research, and advocacy—especially in support of urban and immigrant communities. Since 2001, we have remained committed to advancing health equity in Brooklyn and beyond.

As a nationally accredited institution, we provide students with access to exceptional faculty, innovative learning experiences, and a community-driven approach to public health solutions.

We thank our faculty, students, researchers, and practitioners for their dedication to healthier communities—locally and globally.

Happy National Public Health Week!

01/04/2026

We welcomed Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc, former New York City Health Commissioner, and Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the Joel S. Levine, MD Memorial Lectureship. (View the conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uu1_zXPoBY&t=73s

Dr. Mandy Cohen—Dr. Levine’s niece—set the tone with Stephen Colbert–style questions that revealed the person behind the title, offering a candid and human glimpse into Dr. Chokshi before turning to the weight of leadership.

The conversation moved seamlessly between the personal and the profound. We heard about Dr. Chokshi’s Louisiana roots and his appreciation for a vegetarian Po’ Boy. He also shared a deeply personal reflection: the scent of his daughters’ baby breath as a reminder of what matters most.

Then came the reality of leadership.

Dr. Chokshi described walking to Elmhurst Hospital during the early days of COVID—seeing freezer trucks used as makeshift morgues, emergency departments beyond capacity, and residents facing unimaginable loss. Those experiences remain with him.

But he also reminded us of what was possible—clinicians transforming care environments within hours, teams mobilizing across systems, and a vaccination campaign that reached millions of New Yorkers.

His reflections on leadership were clear:
Move from having answers to asking better questions.
Move from focusing on tasks to investing in people.
Move from clever communication to steady, persistent communication.

And his advice to the next generation:
Spend as much time nourishing your convictions as you do building your credentials.

Dr. Levine’s legacy lives in that charge—and in the responsibility we carry forward as leaders in healthcare.

31/03/2026

On National Doctors’ Day, we recognize physicians whose impact extends far beyond the bedside.

Dr. Pascal James Imperato’s career reflects that impact in every sense.

As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, he spent more than six years in West Africa, helping lead vaccination efforts that eliminated smallpox in Mali using a targeted, community-based approach.

He later brought that experience to Downstate, where he served as Founding Dean and Dean Emeritus of the School of Public Health and now serves as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer.

His message is simple: never forget why you are a physician.

Today, we honor Dr. Imperato and all Downstate physicians whose leadership and compassion strengthen our communities.

Watch his story:
https://lnkd.in/ebJ7u4Yu

20/03/2026

Match Day 2026 at SUNY Downstate!

187 of our medical students have matched into residency programs—marking the next step in their journey to becoming physicians.

- 76% will remain in New York State
- More than half will train in NYC, many in Brooklyn
- 35 will continue their training at Downstate

Our graduates are helping strengthen the healthcare workforce and expand access to care where it’s needed most.



Visit our Match Day Page Here:

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading urban medical centers, serving the people of Brooklyn since 1860.

19/03/2026

Tomorrow is one of the most meaningful milestones in medical education—Match Day.

After years of dedication, resilience, and purpose, our students at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University will take the next step in their journeys as physicians, discovering where they will continue their training and serve communities across the country.

We could not be more proud of this accomplished, compassionate, and inspiring class.

Join us as we celebrate this moment together—live—beginning at 11:30 AM:
🔗

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