Alumni Association Welcomes A New President
On May 18, 2020, Dr. Daniel L. Beckles, MD’97, PhD’04 became the President of the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Alumni Association. He succeeds Dr. Linda M. Nicoll, MD’04. Dr. Beckles is an academic cardiothoracic surgeon and scientist. He is the Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support in the Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery CV Institute at Baylor Scott & White Health in Central Texas. He is a Professor (Adjunct) of Texas A &M University College of Medicine, Department of Medical Education.
Dr. Beckles obtained his BS and MS in biochemistry and chemistry respectively, from Stony Brook University in New York. He obtained his MD degree from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and stayed there for his general surgery residency and completed a Ph.D. degree in Cardiovascular Molecular and Cell Biology. He completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School. He held positions as Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Co-Director of Heart and Lung Transplant Services in Galveston/Houston, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the first Herman and Olive Pascarella Endowed Professor of Cardiovascular Research at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York City.
Dr. Beckles is double boarded by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Chest Physicians. He is a member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, American Society of Transplantation, International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the Association of Academic Surgeons and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons.
His clinical interests and expertise are in high-risk cardiothoracic surgery including heart transplantation, minimally invasive surgery, and ventricular assist devices, critical care, and translational research. He received Top Doctor and Super Doctor Awards from Texas Monthly Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, and Castle Connolly in Houston and New York City. He has won numerous Excellence in teaching awards, the Golden Apple teaching award, the Hugh J. Carroll Teaching Award, and UTMB Surgery Resident Teaching Award. He has numerous clinical and basic sciences peer-reviewed publications, co-author in textbook chapters and 2 U.S. Patents.
The Alumni Association would like to thank Dr. Nicoll for her outstanding work as President. We are excited to work with Dr. Beckles to intensify awareness and develop an increasingly dedicated dynamic SUNY Downstate College of Medicine alumni community that is committed to SUNY Downstate’s mission and vision.
“I need your help to grow our alumni community and SUNY Downstate Pride! The Alumni Association is you.” – Daniel L. Beckles, MD’97, PhD’04