Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“It’s an honor to serve all New Yorkers who need our care,” Dr. Katz said.
By Forum Staff
Following Mayor Eric Adams’ renomination, the NYC Health + Hospitals’ Board of Directors on Thursday, by unanimous vote, confirmed its support for Mitchell Katz, MD, to continue as president and CEO of the New York City health system. As a public benefit corporation, the NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) Board of Directors votes on and appoints the health system president and CEO. Dr. Katz has served in his current roles since September 2017, and throughout his tenure, Dr. Katz has financially stabilized the health system, closing a deficit of approximately $2 billion; invested in ambulatory care to ensure everyone has access to a primary care doctor; and led the health system through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Katz sees patients at Gotham Health/Gouverneur every week.
“As a key member of my health team, I trust Dr. Katz’s opinions and advice when it comes to protecting the health of New Yorkers,” said Adams. “The COVID-19 pandemic showed the vital role our public health system plays in the city, and Dr. Katz has shown his commitment to NYC Health + Hospitals and all the New Yorkers who rely on its health care services. It’s just a fact, Dr. Katz ‘Gets Stuff Done,’ which is why I fully support his ongoing leadership of H+H.”
“The Board of Directors voted unanimously to confirm their support for Dr. Katz as our president and CEO,” said Jose Pagan, chairman, Board of Directors, NYC Health + Hospitals. “Through the pandemic, under his leadership, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers entrusted their care to NYC Health + Hospitals. New Yorkers saw a vital and vibrant health system, which Dr. Katz has strengthened and stabilized during his tenure here. The board looks forward to continuing our great relationship with Dr. Katz.”
“I thank Mayor Adams and the entire NYC Health + Hospitals Board for entrusting me with the helm of this amazing health system,” Dr. Katz added. “Every week, when I see my patients, I see the trust they give us and the great responsibility we have to them. It’s an honor to serve all New Yorkers who need our care.”
Dr. Katz joined NYC Health + Hospitals from the Los Angeles County Health Agency, where he served as director. For five years he served as the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the second largest public safety net system in the United States, during which he created the ambulatory care network and empaneled over 350,000 patients to a primary care home. Earlier in his career, he was the director and health officer of the San Francisco Department of Health for 13 years, best known for funding needle exchanges, creating Healthy San Francisco, outlawing the sale of tobacco at pharmacies, and winning ballot measures for rebuilding Laguna Honda Hospital and San Francisco General Hospital.
He is the deputy editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (previously the Institute of Medicine), and the recipient of the Los Angeles County Medical Association 2015 Healthcare Champion of the year.
Dr. Katz is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Medical School. He completed an internal medicine residency at UCSF Medical School, and he was an RWJ Clinical Scholar.
