You Won’t Believe Who Just Became a Fifty Over Fifty Icon—Meet the Man Changing Lives at 70!

New York, NY — Dr. Mitchell Katz, the President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, has been recognized as a Fifty Over Fifty Icon by City & State and AARP New York. This prestigious award highlights leaders who have made significant contributions that pave the way for future generations, inspiring those looking to make a difference in New York State. In an interview with City & State’s magazine, Dr. Katz reflected on his motivations for entering health care administration and the challenges he faced leading New York City’s public health care system during the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis.

“I never intended to be a hospital administrator, but I began doing this work to make it easier for my patients to access care,” said Dr. Katz. “I am enormously proud of the work we have done at NYC Health + Hospitals to support our patients. I want to thank City & State and AARP New York for this honor and for shining a light on the importance of our public health care system.”

Dr. Katz's tenure since his appointment in 2018 has been marked by numerous initiatives aimed at expanding access to care in New York City. One of his significant accomplishments is the creation of NYC Care, a health care access program that currently provides services to over 100,000 uninsured New Yorkers. Under his leadership, the organization has also adopted a modern electronic health record system and launched the Housing for Health program, which has successfully placed more than 1,200 patients into permanent housing. His work extends beyond traditional healthcare, as he has overseen the health system’s humanitarian response to the ongoing asylum seeker crisis, enhanced outreach for the homeless, and increased the number of permanent nursing positions within the system.

Dr. Katz has also played a pivotal role in steering NYC Health + Hospitals through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. His strategic leadership not only addressed immediate public health needs but also turned around the financial health of the system by enrolling more patients into health insurance plans and ensuring proper billing practices.

Before assuming his role in New York, Dr. Katz was the Director of the Los Angeles County Health Agency, which unites the Departments of Health Services, Public Health, and Mental Health. This expansive agency operates on a budget of $7 billion and employs 28,000 individuals. During his time in Los Angeles, he established an ambulatory care network and helped transition over 350,000 patients to primary care homes, effectively eliminating a significant deficit in the Department of Health Services by boosting revenues and reducing administrative costs. His efforts also included moving more than 4,000 medically complex patients from hospitals into independent housing.

Dr. Katz's extensive experience in public health began long before his time in Los Angeles. He served as the Director of the San Francisco Department of Health for over thirteen years, where he implemented several innovative programs such as funding needle exchange initiatives, creating Healthy San Francisco, and spearheading ballot measures for the reconstruction of key hospitals.

Dr. Katz is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at UCSF Medical School and was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. He also serves as the Deputy Editor of JAMA Internal Medicine and is an esteemed member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2015, he was honored with the Healthcare Champion of the Year award by the Los Angeles County Medical Association.

As NYC Health + Hospitals continues to evolve, the dedication and vision of leaders like Dr. Katz play a critical role in addressing the complex healthcare needs of New Yorkers. With ongoing challenges in public health, his commitment to accessibility and quality care remains more important than ever.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than one million New Yorkers annually across more than 70 patient care locations throughout the city’s five boroughs. It comprises a robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers, essential hospitals, nursing homes, and home care services, supported by over 46,000 employees.