Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of five members to NYC Health + Hospitals’ Board of Directors. Effective January 1, 2019, José A. Pagán, Sally B. Hernandez-Pinero, Anita Kawatra, Feniosky Peña-Mora, and Freda J. Wang will join the board. Pagán will serve as Chair. The new board members bring expertise from both the private and public sectors, including health policy and delivery, community development, engineering, health communications, and municipal finance and infrastructure. Board members are responsible for overseeing the strategic goals of the public health care system toward its continued transformation and growth, an agenda spearheaded by NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, under the leadership of the New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio.
The NYC Health + Hospitals Board of Directors is charged with governance and oversight of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation. NYC Health + Hospitals serves more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs.
“NYC Health + Hospitals is a critical component of our city’s public health safety net system,” said Mayor de Blasio. “I welcome the expertise and experience these new members will bring to Health + Hospitals’ Board of Directors as we work toward strengthening and transforming our public health care system.”
“Today is an exciting moment for NYC Health + Hospitals. This new board will help accelerate the transformation plan we’ve launched to be a 21st century healthcare delivery system,” saidDeputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “The skills and experiences of incoming board members will serve the healthcare delivery system well. I look forward to working with them, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to the outgoing board members for having served with dedication.”
“We look forward to the addition of the five newly appointed board members, who will bring their own fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the oversight of our cherished public health system,” said Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “At the same time, it’s an honor to publicly the members who will complete their service to the board in December. They have each given so generously of their time and expertise over many years in support of our health system’s mission to serve all.”
Following the appointment of the board members in January, the NYC Health + Hospitals board will consist of 16 members. The full board will include: Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals; Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services; Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Acting Health Commissioner; Steven Banks, Commissioner of the Human Resources Administration; Dr. Gary S. Belkin, Executive Deputy Commissioner of Health-Mental Hygiene at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Helen Arteaga Landaverde; Josephine Bolus; Dr. Vincent Calamia; Gordon J. Campbell; Barbara A. Lowe; and Robert F. Nolan.
“Joining the board of NYC Health + Hospitals is an incredible honor, particularly because I’ve dedicated my career to helping people get better access to health care,” said José Pagán. “I would like to extend my gratitude to Mayor de Blasio for this appointment, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to improve New York City’s public healthcare system.”
“I am grateful that Mayor de Blasio has asked me to support his efforts to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality health care,” said Sally Hernandez-Piñero. “As the largest public provider of health care in the nation, it is critically important that we continue to elevate NYC Health + Hospitals’ ability to fulfill its mission.”
“As a native New Yorker who has spent much of my professional life working to advance global health in areas of unmet medical need, it is an honor to be serving the nation’s largest public health care system here at home,” said Anita Kawatra. “I thank Mayor Bill de Blasio for this appointment and for his leadership in health and human services, and I look forward to working with fellow board members to advance the mission of NYC Health + Hospitals.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals serves an incredibly important role in our city, and I am honored to contribute any way I can to the mission of the organization,” said Feniosky Peña-Mora. “I would like to thank Mayor de Blasio for his trust and look forward to working with both current and incoming board members in advancing the transformational goals of this venerable institution.”
“It’s an honor to join an organization that strives to improve the lives of New Yorkers every day,” said Freda Wang. “I would like to thank Mayor de Blasio for this appointment and look forward to bringing my experience and skills to the board and help ensure NYC Health + Hospitals continues on its path towards its ongoing transformation.”
