He practices at The University of Michigan's Cardiac Surgery satellite practice located at Mercy Health, Muskegon, Michigan. Dr. Downey completed medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, the general surgery residency at Barnes Hospital of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri with two additional years of basic science research then the cardiothoracic residency at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. His clinical interests include minimally invasive means to treat cardiac valve pathologies, endovascular treatment of aortic diseases, a multidisciplinary approach to thoracic oncology and outcome quality improvement.