STAR Program Information

Welcome to the Special Treatment and Research (STAR) Program at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 1991, STAR Program is an integrated clinical, educational, research and community service program within Downstate's Department of Medicine. Our mission is to achieve health equity through quality care, education, research and community empowerment, while creating a culture of continuous improvement, integrity and respect for patients and employees. The STAR Program has transformed over the past 30+ years to address the multiple health disparities of our communities. Medical care, behavioral health care and support services are provided through its two STAR Health Center sites at University Hospital at Downstate and Brookdale Hospital Medical Center. Current services include HIV/HCV/STI screening and treatment; primary care; women’s health; prenatal care; specialized care for LGBTQ populations; hormone therapy; PrEP/PEP; HCV screening and treatment; sub-specialty services; adherence education by clinical pharmacists; health education and risk reduction; nutritional services; case management; care coordination, patient navigation, home-based and telehealth directly-observed therapy (DOT) to help patients maintain care and viral suppression; patient navigation for reentrants; and a full scope of behavioral health services, including psychiatry, supportive counseling, evidence-based interventions, buprenorphine treatment, substance use disorder counseling, harm reduction services, auricular acupuncture, opioid prevention education, and provision of Naloxone.