SUNY Downstate Community Advisory Board

Good evening members of the Advisory Board and thank you for holding these hearings so that the public can weigh in on the future of SUNY Downstate, an integral part of the East Flatbush community for almost sixty years. I am Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, and I am here representing Borough President Antonio Reynoso and the thousands of our constituents who depend on this critical institution.

We are pleased that Governor Hochul has pledged almost $1B over the next two years to support Downstate and we hope that this represents a significant step toward planning for the hospital’s long-term fiscal security. It is currently the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, and the only State-run hospital in NYC. Additionally, it is one of only two regional perinatal centers in Brooklyn, which offer the highest level of obstetric and neonatal care. Downstate is also the home of multiple Centers of Excellence (COEs) such as those for cardiovascular care including thoracic and vascular surgery, and renal care.

It is important to emphasize that Downstate is located in a predominantly low-income, Black community that experiences higher-than-average levels of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as elevated rates of adverse obstetric outcomes such as low birth weight and maternal death. The presence of an academic medical center capable of delivering high-quality care to patients in this area of Brooklyn is thus essential to eliminating the health inequities seen in this population.

Moreover, SUNY Downstate is the only kidney transplant center in Brooklyn. It is critical that people are able to access healthcare as impactful and important as kidney transplants in their home borough rather than having to travel. As in other departments, the kidney transplant team serves Black patients (82% of all patients) at more than twice the rate of other hospitals both the region (38% of patients) and the nation (34.2%).

Downstate’s Health Sciences University also acts as a major institution for the training of physicians and other medical professionals. It contributes to the diversification of the medical field in New York City, ranking in the 93rd percentile for total Black graduates and the 50th percentile for total Latino graduates. Without its own dedicated teaching hospital, it is unclear how the University would be able to attract students and residents who are committed to working in this challenging, underserved, urban environment. Additionally, the availability of research opportunities for students and staff at the University depends on its partnership with Downstate’s clinical departments.

Were SUNY Downstate to close, it would likely impact other medical institutions that have affiliations with SUNY, such as Maimonides Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist, Kings County Hospital, and the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. These institutions interact with SUNY in a variety of ways, ranging from residency placements to expanded cancer care options in Central Brooklyn.

It is also critical to consider how hundreds of jobs would be impacted if SUNY Downstate were to close. Downstate has over 4,000 employees, over half of whom reside in Brooklyn. Unions associated with the hospital and medical school have spoken out against any closure. Unions that have expressed disapproval of plans to close SUNY Downstate include United University Professions (UUP), American Federations for Teachers, New York State United Teachers, and Public Employees Federation. UUP members could see their staffing cut as much as 20% if Downstate closes.

We want Brooklyn to be a leader in delivering excellent healthcare and we do not want our constituents to find it necessary to seek care outside of the borough. It is for this reason that we are committed to keeping SUNY Downstate open. We hope that you will consider all of this in making your recommendations to the Governor about its future. Thank you.