»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Chancellor Announces Renaming of »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Health Science Center at Brooklyn – Downstate Medical Center
Jun 26, 2019
The New Name, »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ, Highlights Robust Academic Offerings and Significant Healthcare Services Provided
BROOKLYN, NY – The State University of New York (»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ) Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson announced
today that »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Downstate Medical Center, has officially
been renamed “The State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University�— the first critical step in a year-long Downstate Rebranding Initiative launched
by Downstate President Wayne J. Riley, M.D.
The coming months will also include a change of name for Downstate’s teaching hospital, University Hospital of Brooklyn, along with a repositioning of its clinical sites and operations as part of DownstateHealthTM.
Today’s name-change marks an early milestone in a rebranding effort that will underscore Downstate’s history and global significance, while elevating its visibility among the millions of people it serves in Brooklyn, the surrounding four boroughs, and across New York State. The rebranding initiative will raise awareness of Downstate’s mission, purpose, and the prestige attached to its comprehensive academic programming in medicine, nursing, public health, biomedical science, and the health professions.
Downstate’s new name encapsulates the full spectrum of the institution’s contributions to higher education, scholarship, workforce development, and healthcare in Brooklyn, in the city, nation-wide, and globally. Additionally, the name more appropriately reflects the varied nature of the institution’s academic offerings comprised its five schools and colleges that confer health science degrees at the bachelor, master, and doctoral level—including MD, PhD, Dr. PH and DPT.
“»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Downstate Medical provides expansive medical services, and its new name – The State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University – now more broadly defines its value,â€� said »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Chancellor Johnson. “At the same time, the rebranding promotes the campus’s contributions to higher education today, and embraces its extensive history.â€�
“We appreciate President Wayne Riley’s efforts to reconnect with the community that »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Downstate serves and are pleased to approve the official renaming,â€� said »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. “The new name captures the breadth and scope of the academic excellence on campus and recognizes its growth.â€�
“We are grateful that Chancellor Johnson and the Board of Trustees agree with our five deans, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Downstate Council, and our Executive Management Team that »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ best communicates the scope of what it is to be Downstate,â€� said Downstate President Wayne J. Riley, M.D. “It is a name that more fully reflects our legacy, our mission, and the contributions we make in the community and to higher education, to ground-breaking medical research, to scholarship, and the development of the healthcare workforce of the future.â€�
»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ was first introduced to the local Brooklyn community and New York at-large in 1860 as “The Long Island College of Medicine.â€� Since then, the institution’s name has evolved—formally joining »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ in 1950 to become known as “»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ College of Medicine at New York City,â€� followed by an informal adoption of its nickname, “Downstate Medical Centerâ€� in 1954, and finally, its most recent modification in 1986 by the Board of Trustees to “»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Health Science Center at Brooklyn.â€�
“»Æ¹ûÊÓÆµâ€� will now be used across all official, internal and external communications such as legal documents, diplomas, certificates, and signage.
A copy of the »Æ¹ûÊÓÆµ Board of Trustees resolution approving the name change can be found .