A Discussion with United University Professions President Frederick E. Kowal and Downstate Chapter President Redetha Abrahams-Nichols
By Linda Nwoke, WWT Exclusive
Listen to the interview with United University Professions President, Frederick E. Kowal, here:
Listen to the interview with Downstate Chapter President, Redetha Abrahams-Nichols, here:
The SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, located in Brooklyn, is the only academic medical center in the borough. It serves as a medical school and research institution. It is the only institution in the borough with a kidney transplant program. Sadly. The beacon of healthcare excellence and a cornerstone of medical education is on the brink of closure due to the financial crisis.
The potential closure is raising grave concerns about healthcare access, especially for minorities, and the future of medical education for millions of residents. The institution also contributes extensively to Brooklyn’s healthcare landscape, especially with over 2000 professionals that play vital roles ranging from medical faculty to nurses and therapists.
SUNY’s Chancellor, John King, assured the public that there would be no loss of care as there are plans to relocate inpatient services to Kings County Hospital despite the closure. Additional efforts are underway to minimize staffing cuts, with a detailed plan expected by the end of March.
Role of United Universities Professions (UUP)
As a body that caters to the needs of its members, the United Universities Professions (UUP) works to safeguard the interest of workers of higher education and healthcare services in New York State under the leadership of Frederick Kowal (Ph.D.). Emphasizing the breadth of their influence, Dr Kowal stated, “We are the largest higher education union in the country. The body consists of a diverse membership, and its current focus is preventing the closure of SUNY Downstate. We cover a wide range of professions. And we are ensuring that the State University of New York leadership and the governor do not close Downstate because of its central role in health care in Brooklyn.”
The Closure Plan
The proposed plan calls for shutting the 342-bed facility and relocating its services to Kings County Hospital while focusing on minimizing staffing cuts. A plan that the President of UUP vehemently opposed.
First, he considers the absence of community involvement in developing the closure plans a significant flaw. Kowal highlighted SUNY Downstate’s vital role in providing essential services like trauma and cardiac care within and beyond the community. Besides, the hospital’s financial challenges are deemed a fallout from a decade-long failure by the state to provide adequate funding that became exacerbated by the lack of compensation for its COVID-19 response efforts.
Thus, in his view, the proposed closure is unjustified, asserting that the state owes SUNY Downstate over $160 million and a commitment to investment to modernize the hospital instead.
“We reject the plan on several grounds because the plan was done secretly and without community involvement. Secondly, New York State has not fulfilled its moral and legal obligation to fund SUNY Downstate for over ten years. Thirdly, the hospital was declared COVID only; this hospital kept people alive, members who put their lives on the line were not compensated, and neither was the hospital. It received no funding for that service, including all the lost revenue because other services couldn’t be performed,” says Kowal.
Additionally, relocating services to Kings County Hospital will result in the loss or reduction of essential services due to insufficient capacity. Kowal insists there should be a community-led long-term plan for SUNY Downstate and healthcare in central Brooklyn, with an urgent need for state investment to address healthcare disparities in the underserved area.
Factors leading to SUNY’s Worsened Financial Situation
During the pandemic, the institution became a COVID-only facility, which limited other procedures. Kowal strongly believes that the move contributed to the hospital’s present predicament despite its critical role in the community. He noted SUNY Downstate was the only viable option when Governor Cuomo needed a facility to handle COVID-19 patients, showcasing its importance and capability. However, the decision to abandon the hospital after it proved its worth during the pandemic is unfortunate. “It would be immoral to do so given its past service and ongoing contributions to healthcare.”
Recently, Governor Hochul allocated an additional $100 million to transform SUNY Downstate. Although it is a welcome act, the gesture has some reservations because of its implications. In his view, more commitment is needed from the leadership of both Governor Cuomo and Governor Hochul towards funding the hospital since 2018.
He argued that first, the amount allocated falls short of addressing the hospital’s more significant deficit resulting from COVID-19, and second, it comes with conditions tied to the closure of Suny Downstate. Conditions are deemed “blackmail” since the money is contingent on the hospital’s closure within the next year or two. “The state owes the people of Brooklyn, specifically Central Brooklyn and this facility, and our members doing lifesaving work there. They owe over $100 million as a down payment for the lack of investment over the years,” says Dr. Kowal.
Community Engagement and Transparency
Dr Kowal emphasized the need for genuine community involvement in developing a plan to invest in healthcare and expand SUNY Downstate’s services. He criticized SUNY’s limited community engagement efforts, labeling them inadequate given the short timeline for finalizing the plan and the coercive conditions attached to funding. “This is a smoke screen, and it is terrible. It’s trying to pull a fast one on the people of Brooklyn. And I know the people of Brooklyn pretty well. They won’t fall for the plan,” he said.
Conversely, we also spoke to Redetha Abrahams-Nichols, President of the United University Professions (UPP) Downstate Chapter in Brooklyn. Being at the forefront of the situation, she described the troubling experience of learning about the transformation plan on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, highlighting the lack of transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process.
Discussions with the UPP Chapter President in Brooklyn
The Chapter President also expressed dismay at the sudden announcement of the plan to eliminate inpatient services and the significant staff reduction. Ms. Abrahams-Nichols stated that the absence of input from the Downstate community and local legislators has caused a loss of trust in the administration and the state government.
She questioned the motives behind the lack of communication and targeted attack on Downstate Medical Center. She suggested systemic issues related to race and community involvement.
“During COVID, we stayed and fought, and two to three years later, you’re telling us we’re not needed. Do they feel that black and brown people don’t have a right to know what’s going on in their community, that they can give us anything they want to give us, and we have to take it? We’re no longer going to do that. We are going to fight for our healthcare in Central Brooklyn.”
As a nurse for over 20 years, Abrahams-Nichols is committed to fighting for healthcare in Central Brooklyn, challenging assertions about bed occupancy rates and raising concerns about patient care. “There’s a lot of talk about beds not full in Brooklyn. When the Chancellor spoke at the one community meeting, he said there are 1600 beds in Brooklyn, but only 796 are occupied. But when I walked through the emergency room, there were people in the emergency room for days because there were no beds upstairs. When I spoke to my colleagues at Kings County, they said 70 patients were in the ER with no beds upstairs. What are we doing here, and why is there an attack Downstate?” asked the Chapter President.
Mobilization Efforts to Address the Situation
Specific steps taken by the chapter to tackle the situation include the commitment to mobilize voices and a seat at the decision-making table regarding Downstate. Additionally, there are grassroots efforts, including door-knocking to engage the community and a planned rally on February 29th with various speakers, legislators, and faith-based leaders. Abrahams-Nichols highlighted the importance of saving the hospital, warning that its closure could set a dangerous precedent while questioning the motives behind potential redevelopment plans. “I want people to understand that not saving this hospital is going to set a precedent, that they can do this anywhere in the world and decide not to take care of people, because really and truly because we’re black or brown or the real estate now makes so much money. You want to put affordable housing there that we can’t afford. A lot of our brothers and sisters cannot afford affordable housing. The Chancellor talked about providing affordable housing. Affordable to who?” she asked.
Strategies for Community Involvement in Keeping SUNY Downstate Open
Additionally, the Abrahams-Nichols suggested some outlined actions that the public can take, including door knocking, displaying signs, following their Instagram account for updates on rallies and activities, writing letters to governors and local officials, and engaging on social media platforms like TikTok. She emphasized the importance of young people’s involvement, stressing that the fight is for their future in healthcare. There are also plans to engage with schools as she stressed the ongoing nature of the conversation, noting that SUNY Downstate is not the only hospital facing closure. Despite similar issues at institutions like Stony Brook and Upstate Medical, SUNY Downstate is deemed targeted. “Why are hospitals serving predominantly black and brown communities consistently under threat?” In her view, there is a need for a sustainability plan to rebuild and serve the community’s healthcare needs effectively. “Now more than ever, Downstate is needed in this community,” concluded Abrahams-Nichols.
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