About HECMR
Long Island Is Our Patient
Long Island is more than where we live and work—it is the community whose health we are called to serve. Our region’s coastal geography, vibrant neighborhoods, and spirit of resilience make it an extraordinary place to call home.
At the same time, changing environmental conditions and persistent health disparities are reshaping the wellbeing of our communities. These challenges demand solutions that place health equity at the center so every Long Islander has the opportunity to live a long, healthy life.
At the Stony Brook Office of Health Equity and Climate Medicine Research (HECMR), we treat Long Island itself as our patient. We connect community experience and academic research to find bold solutions.
Support Translational Research
We help community members, researchers, and clinicians address complex, deep-rooted challenges, turning data and knowledge into real-world health solutions.
Build Strong Partnerships
We work side-by-side with local leaders to ensure our priorities match the actual needs of our neighbors.
Activate Solutions
Together, we move beyond just identifying disparities. We co-create research-driven strategies that cultivate a healthier, more resilient future for all Long Islanders.
Vision and Mission
- Vision: A resilient Long Island where every person can live a healthy, fulfilling life through high-quality care, strong community connection, and an adaptable environment.
- Mission: HECMR’s mission is to break down silos between research and the community to identify innovative solutions for the future of care, conservation, and connection.
How We Work
HECMR is more than a research center. We are connectors, collaborators, and catalyzers. We work with our community, research, and health care partners to move from identifying a health disparity to finding collaborators to activating research-based solutions for a healthier Long Island.
Listening to Our Community
Our process starts when our network reaches out to us. We work with community partners, clinicians, and researchers to identify health disparities and ensure their ideas are aligned with our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).
The CHNA is our north star: It outlines what Long Islanders say their top health priorities are, ensuring our work can make a difference.
Building the Right Team
Once we identify a challenge, we find the people in our network to solve it. We amplify their collaboration, providing the time, resources, and expertise needed to turn a big idea into action.
Project Evaluation
We evaluate our partnerships at every step to see what is working and where we can grow. We then turn these successes into tailored resources, helping community leaders and decision-makers make informed choices that improve the health of our neighbors and our environment.
Talk to Our Team
Do you have an idea that can help build a healthier Long Island?
Reach out to our team to start the process.
It’s Time to Get Involved
Building a healthier, more resilient world can’t wait. There are many ways you can make a difference.
