PoliticsNY AND amNY Metro’s ‘2025 Power Players In Health Care’ Recognizes NYC Health + Hospitals Leadership – NYC Health + Hospitals

Report on NYC Health + Hospitals Leadership Recognition and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

• On November 21, 2025, PoliticsNY and amNY Metro recognized eight leaders from NYC Health + Hospitals in their ‘2025 Power Players in Health Care’ list.
• This report analyzes the contributions of these leaders through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The honorees’ initiatives demonstrate significant progress towards key SDGs, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The collective efforts of the recognized leaders from NYC Health + Hospitals substantially advance several UN Sustainable Development Goals. Their work focuses on creating a resilient and equitable public health system that serves all New Yorkers, which is fundamental to sustainable urban development.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core mission of all recognized leaders is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, directly aligning with this goal through expanded access to care, improved health infrastructure, and leadership in public health crises.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Initiatives consistently target under-resourced communities, provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay, and address the needs of vulnerable populations, including the homeless and asylum seekers.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The recognition of four women in top executive roles, including a CEO celebrated as a “trailblazing first woman” to lead her institution, highlights significant strides in achieving gender equality and empowering women in leadership positions within the healthcare sector.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The leaders have spearheaded major upgrades in health infrastructure, including the adoption of modern electronic health records, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced technological platforms to enhance efficiency and patient safety.
• SDG 1 & 11 (No Poverty & Sustainable Cities and Communities): Programs providing housing for homeless patients and expanding community-based health centers contribute directly to poverty reduction and the creation of inclusive, safe, and sustainable communities.

Contributions of Recognized Leaders

The individual achievements of the eight honorees highlight a multi-faceted approach to advancing public health and sustainable development.

1. Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO

   • SDG 3 & 9: Advanced health system resilience by leading through the COVID-19 crisis, overseeing the adoption of a modern electronic health record system, and improving the system’s financial health.
   • SDG 1 & 10: Directly addressed inequality and poverty by launching a program that housed over 1,200 homeless patients and leading the humanitarian response for asylum seekers.

2. Dr. Eric Wei, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

   • SDG 3 & 4 (Quality Education): Contributes to good health and well-being as a practicing Emergency Medicine physician and advances quality education and research as a Professor at multiple leading medical schools.

3. Christopher Mastromano, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx

   • SDG 9: Manages significant infrastructure development with $500M in capital improvement projects, strengthening the physical foundation of the health system.
   • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Oversees a budget of $1B and a staff of 5,000, contributing to local employment and economic stability.

4. Danielle DiBari, Chief Pharmacy Officer

   • SDG 9 & 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Implemented cutting-edge technology and unified procurement operations, generating hundreds of millions in cost savings and promoting efficient resource management.
   • SDG 3: Increased outpatient pharmacy revenue by nearly 500%, expanding access to essential medicines for New Yorkers.

5. José A. Pagán, Chair of the Board of Directors

   • SDG 3 & 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): As a health economist, his work on health care delivery redesign and the social determinants of health informs policy and fosters partnerships between academia and public health systems to achieve health equity.

6. Michelle Lewis, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health

   • SDG 10: Drives equitable access to healthcare by developing state-of-the-art ambulatory sites in under-resourced areas and providing care regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
   • SDG 3: Improved early detection and screening in underserved communities by introducing advanced radiology services like MRI, CT scans, and 3D mammography.

7. Natalia Cineas, Chief Nursing Executive

   • SDG 3 & 5: As a female leader directing over 9,600 nurses, she is pivotal to strengthening the healthcare workforce. Her role as Co-Chair of the Equity and Access Council directly supports SDG 10.
   • SDG 5: Her recognition as an Inaugural Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing underscores her commitment to advancing diversity and gender equity in the profession.

8. Svetlana Lipyanskaya, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health

   • SDG 5: Embodies female leadership as the first woman to lead the executive team, serving as a powerful example of gender equality in top management roles.
   • SDG 9 & 11: Is reshaping community access to healthcare by securing funding for critical infrastructure projects and launching a state-of-the-art inpatient facility, making the community more resilient.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and achievements that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on health, but it also touches upon inequality, infrastructure, and sustainable communities. The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article revolves around leaders in the healthcare sector and their efforts to improve the health of New Yorkers. It discusses expanding access to care, improving health system finances, strengthening the health workforce, and providing comprehensive medical services.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article emphasizes providing equitable care to all, regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status. It mentions specific initiatives for vulnerable populations like asylum seekers and residents of under-resourced communities, directly addressing the goal of reducing inequalities in access to essential services.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The connection is made through the recognition that health is tied to other urban factors, specifically housing. The article mentions a program that places patients into permanent housing and expands outreach to homeless New Yorkers, which aligns with the goal of ensuring access to adequate housing and basic services for all urban dwellers.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article details significant investments in healthcare infrastructure, including capital improvement projects, the construction of new state-of-the-art facilities, and the adoption of modern technology like electronic health records and ERP platforms. This aligns with the goal of developing quality, reliable, and resilient infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the actions and achievements described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services… for all. This is supported by statements about “enrolling more patients into health insurance,” providing care “regardless of ability to pay or immigration status,” and “expanding access to care for New Yorkers.”
   • Target 3.4: …reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. This is addressed through initiatives “improving access to early detection, screening, and specialized care” (MRI, CT scans, 3D mammography) and the “development of comprehensive medical and behavioral ambulatory services.”
   • Target 3.c: Substantially increase… the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce… This is reflected in the effort to have “increased the number of nurse positions” and the leadership over a workforce of “more than 9,600 nurses.”
2. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status. This is demonstrated by the system’s commitment to “high-quality, equitable care to all New Yorkers, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status,” its “humanitarian response to the asylum seeker crisis,” and its focus on “expanding access to healthcare in under resourced areas.”
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services… This target is directly addressed by the program that has “placed over 1,200 patients into permanent housing” and the “expanded outreach for homeless New Yorkers,” linking healthcare provision to housing security.
4. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support… human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. This is evident in the management of “$500M in capital improvement projects,” the launch of a “state-of-the-art inpatient facility,” and the “adoption of a modern electronic health record system.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 3.8 (Universal Health Coverage):
  • The increase in outpatient pharmacy revenue (“nearly 500% over the last two years”) serves as an indicator of streamlined operations and potentially expanded service access.
  • The number of new ambulatory sites developed in under-resourced areas is an indicator of expanded access to care.
  • The number of patients enrolled into health insurance plans is a direct measure of progress towards financial risk protection.
• For Target 3.c (Health Workforce):
  • The total number of nurses employed (“more than 9,600”) is a baseline indicator for the size of the health workforce.
  • The “increased the number of nurse positions” is a direct indicator of workforce strengthening.
• For Target 11.1 (Access to Housing):
  • The number of patients placed into permanent housing (“over 1,200”) is a specific, measurable indicator of the success of programs linking health and housing.
• For Target 9.1 (Infrastructure):
  • The total budget for infrastructure upgrades (“$500M in capital improvement projects”) is a key financial indicator of investment in resilient infrastructure.
  • The implementation of specific technologies (e.g., “modern electronic health record system,” “state-of-the-art ERP platform”) serves as an indicator of technological modernization.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nychealthandhospitals.org