REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – January 2026

Mitchell H. Katz, MD
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
January 29, 2026

AS THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT THE CITY’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM’S FIRST BABY OF 2026 WAS BORN AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/HARLEM

The City’s public health care System’s first baby of 2026 was welcomed at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem at 12:00 AM, January 1, 2026. The baby girl weighed 7lbs. 2.8oz, and measures 21.26 in. The baby girl was born to mom and dad Oumy Niang and Amadou Niang. The baby girl is the Harlem couple’s fifth child. Their previous three children were all born at Harlem Hospital.

MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI APPOINTS HELEN ARTEAGA LANDAVERDE, CEO OF NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST, DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, just two days before the Inauguration, Mayor-elect Mamdani appointed NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde as his Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.

Landaverde had served in the role of CEO for five years, and was appointed early January 2021. As Deputy Mayor she will oversee her old employer, NYC Health + Hospitals, the NYC Health Department, the Departments of Social Services, Aging, Veterans’ Services, Youth and Children’s Services, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS APPOINTS NATALIYA YAKOVLEVA, LNHA, LMSW AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR COLER NURSING HOME

On January 16, Nataliya Yakovleva, LNHA, LMSW was appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler. Yakovleva brings nearly twenty-five years of experience in long-term care settings working with geriatric, sub-acute, and memory care populations, with fifteen years in various leadership roles at large-scale nursing home organizations, including Metropolitan Jewish Health System – Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care in Brooklyn, and Clove Lakes Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center on Staten Island.

In her previous role as the Executive Director at Clove Lakes, Yakovleva achieved a 5-star rating for Quality Measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), successfully implemented a new electronic medical record system, and increased the overall census by over 100 residents. She is the first female Chief Executive Officer at Coler in more than 40 years. Coler has earned 5-star ratings from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in quality, staffing and overall. Yakovleva assumed her new role effective January 20.

KEEPING PATIENTS WARM DURING PERIODS OF EXTREME COLD

During the Cold Blue weather emergency, NYC Health + Hospitals activated 18 warming centers at all of its hospital facilities and several community health centers across the five boroughs to ensure patients have a warm place to stay and are not discharged into unsafe conditions. Warming centers – many of which provide overnight service – are open to anyone in need and offer heated space, food and water, overnight staffing, and access to clinical support. Centers are operated using a mix of internal hospital space and buses. These measures ensure we are protecting patients while continuing to meet our clinical care demands and maintaining emergency department capacity. In the morning, we connect guests with same day appointments with our safety net clinics.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS EMPLOYEE AND FACILITY RECOGNITIONS

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN SURGICAL SAFETY

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens announced its designation as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the nation’s leading authority on perioperative nursing practice. This recognition honors Queens Hospital’s commitment to improving patients’ physical and psychological well-being before, during, and after surgery through consistent, evidence based Enhanced Recovery practices.

The Center of Excellence designation signifies that NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has successfully completed AORN’s comprehensive ERAS program — an evidence-based, multidisciplinary initiative focused on reducing postoperative complications, improving pain management, optimizing recovery, and strengthening team communication.

BECKER’S HOSPITAL REVIEW RECOGNIZES THREE NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS NURSING LEADERS ON 2025 “CNOS TO KNOW” LIST

NYC Health + Hospitals announced that Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Chief Nursing Officer Opal Sinclair-Chung, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Nursing Officer Christopher G. Wilson are recognized on the “CNOs To Know List” for 2025. The annual recognition list highlights the outstanding CNOs who drive nursing strategy, address workforce and budgetary challenges, and build strong professional development pathways for the next generation of nurses. Beyond overseeing nursing operations, these executives lead innovative initiatives that elevate care quality and clinical excellence, blending deep clinical expertise with executive leadership to support nurses and advance health care across their organizations. Becker’s Healthcare is the go-to source for health care decision-makers and one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST NAMES DR. PHILLIP FAIRWEATHER “2025 PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst announced that Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Phillip Fairweather was been named Elmhurst’s “2025 Physician of the Year.” Dr. Fairweather’s recognition honors his more than three decades of outstanding service as an Emergency Medicine physician, clinical leader, and educator, as well as his contributions to the Elmhurst community.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST, HARLEM, AND JACOBI EARN NATIONAL SPECIAL PATHOGEN AWARDS TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL SURGE CAPACITY

Three acute care hospitals — NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi — were awarded the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment and Network Development (STAND) Award. These designations formally recognize the hospital facilities as NSPS Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (SPTCs), expanding the public health care system’s capacity to safely care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases. The grant program is administered by the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), the national coordinating body for the NSPS. Each award recipient will receive up to $500,000 to support enhanced training, workforce readiness, infrastructure, and operational planning for special pathogens.

As NSPS Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Centers, Elmhurst, Harlem, and Jacobi Hospitals will work closely with NETEC and regional partners to achieve and maintain Level 2 readiness standards. These hospitals will support preparedness across the continuum of care, reinforce the region’s ability to rapidly scale up during outbreaks, and partner closely with Level 1 regional hubs. Level 2 facilities are designed to deliver specialized care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases for the duration of illness and to support coordinated response during times of surge.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN ADULT INTENSIVE CARE UNIT EARNS 2025 GOLD BEACON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE FOR THIRD TIME IN A ROW

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan’s Adult Intensive Care Unit earned the 2025 Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This designation makes the hospital’s 9B Adult ICU the health care system’s longest continually recognized unit. The 2025 award marks the unit’s third consecutive Beacon designation since first receiving the award in 2021. This sustained recognition also places Metropolitan Hospital among only 24 ICUs nationally to earn consecutive Gold-level awards in 2024 and 2025 and one of just four in New York State.

The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes critical care units that demonstrate sustained excellence through evidence-based, innovative practices that improve patient outcomes, enhance nursing practice, and promote healthy work environments. The Gold Award is the highest honor, recognizing unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Unlike other awards that recognize hospitals and facilities as an entity, the Beacon Award for Excellence specifically honors individual units for outstanding performance.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND FACILITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAYOR MAMDANI RESTARTS JUST HOME SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE, REVERSING PRIOR ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO BLOCK PROJECT

Mayor Mamdani announced his administration’s commitment to advancing Just Home, a first-of-its-kind housing initiative to serve formerly incarcerated New Yorkers with complex medical needs on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. The 100% affordable housing project will create 83 new apartments in an underutilized building on the Bronx hospital grounds. The Fortune Society will serve as the developer and service provider for Just Home.

Just Home will expand multiple Citywide initiatives that advance the Mayor’s goals, including the City’s Justice-Involved Supportive Housing (JISH) program and NYC Health + Hospitals’ Housing for Health — and his commitment to use public sites to create housing for New Yorkers in need. Just Home has received $1 million in annual funding through JISH, an evidence-driven permanent, supportive housing model that results in fewer returns to jail, less shelter use, and improved health outcomes. In accordance with the JISH model, supportive housing tenants at Just Home will receive intensive, wraparound services from Fortune Society’s licensed clinical social workers and dedicated peer workers.

MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW YOUTH CLINICS AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL AND QUEENS

Mayor Mamdani joined NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth to launch two new clinics to provide comprehensive health care to young people ages 16 to 25 years old at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and Queens.

Supported by $4 million from MetroPlusHealth, the clinics will aim to keep youth engaged in care as they age out of pediatric care, reduce emergency room visits, and improve long-term health outcomes. According to MetroPlusHealth claims data, nearly 90% of youth stop seeing their mental health provider after they turn 21. The new Elevate You clinics will provide behavioral health care, primary care, reproductive care, vocational support, and social support services from a consistent care team. The program’s multidisciplinary treatment team includes a social worker, psychiatrist, nurse, youth peer, and family advocate.

PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS PRESIDENT AND CEO DR. KATZ ANNOUNCE MAIMONIDES HEALTH TO JOIN NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS

On Monday, December 29, the former administration, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, and Maimonides Health Chief Executive Officer Ken Gibbs announced that NYC Health + Hospitals will move forward with a partnership that will allow Maimonides Health to become a part of the City’s health care system, pending final legal and regulatory approval. Maimonides Health is a Brooklyn health care system with three hospitals and more than 80 community-based sites. By joining the public health care System, care provided by Maimonides facilities will be reimbursed at a higher rate by Medicaid, bolstering its financial position. The merger also allows Maimonides to adopt Epic, the state-of-the-art electronic health record platform, which will allow it to improve care coordination and its ability to collect revenue.

Maimonides patients will be able to access their health records online and contact their care team digitally through the portal. Patient care will continue uninterrupted during the transition. The partnership is supported by $2.2 billion over five years from New York state to protect safety net health care in Brooklyn.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS SECURES 75 MEDICARE-FUNDED RESIDENCY POSITIONS TOGROW AND STRENGTHEN ITS CLINICAL WORKFORCE

The public health care System announced a major expansion of its Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, securing Federal funding for 75 new, permanent residency positions that will help train the next generation of physicians and strengthen care for New Yorkers across the City. Over the course of four annual Federal award rounds, NYC Health + Hospitals secured 75 full-time equivalent (FTE), Medicare-funded residency slots. These permanent positions enable the public health care System to grow its training programs gradually and responsibly, matching new residents to facilities based on workforce needs, patient demand, and long-term financial planning. This is the largest number of slots in the country, secured, in part, with the help of External Affairs and other partner advocacy in Washington, D.C.

These new residency positions enable NYC Health + Hospitals to expand accredited training programs in high-need specialties such as primary care, internal medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, and several medical subspecialties. Unlike one-time federal grants, GME funding is permanent and flexible which allows residency programs to phase in new doctors over time, ensuring high-quality training while building a strong, sustainable pipeline of physicians committed to serving New York City’s diverse communities.

THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ANNOUNCES ITS LOWEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAFF TURNOVER AND VACANCY RATES IN RECENT HISTORY

NYC Health + Hospitals announced its lowest behavioral health staff turnover and vacancy rates in recent history following a suite of programs focused on recruitment, retention, training, and expanded career pathways. The health care System’s behavioral health staff turnover rate is now at 8%, a significant drop from nearly 18% in 2022 and far below the national average of 31%. Additionally, vacancies across all behavioral health disciplines declined to 6%, below the national average of 14%. Since January 2024, the health care System has hired about 100 new psychiatrists, nearly 20 new psychiatric nurse practitioners, and more than 400 social workers. Vacancies for social workers fell from 12% in 2024 to 5% today. In addition, vacancies for psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, and behavioral health associates each fell by over 50%.

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest provider of behavioral health care in New York City. The health care System provides over 60% of behavioral health services citywide, serving nearly 80,000 patients annually across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care. Its behavioral health workforce comprises 5,700 employees.

NEW PROGRAM EXPANDS COMPREHENSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE CARE FOR WOMEN SUFFERING FROM ENDOMETRIOSIS AND CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN

NYC Health + Hospitals launched the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Program to enhance the health care System’s gynecologic care. Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus instead grows outside of the uterus. This tissue can grow on the ovaries, intestines, or bladder and cause excruciating pain. According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 1 in 10 women in the United States have endometriosis, and it generally takes up to 10 years to receive a diagnosis. Chronic pelvic pain is a complex disease defined by pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen that lasts for more than six months. According to the International Pelvic Pain Society, chronic pelvic pain can be caused by multiple conditions from different organ systems, such as gynecologic, gastrointestinal, urologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and others.

Led by Dr. Vijay Palvia and Dr. Daniel Barraez, the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Program offers a wide array of diagnostic tools, medical therapies, and surgical procedures. More importantly, the program provides continuity of care with a robust team of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, mental health providers, and social workers. Treatment can include hormonal medication, multimodal pain medication, pelvic floor physical therapy, lifestyle medicine interventions, and surgery. Patients can be referred to the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Program from an NYC Health + Hospitals gynecology practice.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/GOTHAM HEALTH LAUNCHES PHARMACY HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM ACROSS NEW YORK CITY

On Thursday, January 8, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health today announced the launch of its Pharmacy Home Delivery Program, now available at all 29 Gotham Health locations across New York City. In partnership with ScriptDrop, this innovative program offers patients the convenience of having their prescriptions delivered directly to their homes, addressing one of health care’s most persistent barriers: access to medication. According to ScriptDrop, 89% of patients found that home delivery improved medication adherence.

The launch of this program enhances health care access, particularly for under-resourced populations facing transportation, mobility, or financial challenges. The Pharmacy Home Delivery Program ensures that Gotham Health patients, no matter where they live within New York City, they can receive medications promptly and securely at their doorstep.

Patients will receive their medications within one business day, with helpful tracking details via text, and they will be required to sign for their medications upon arrival. The program delivers all prescription medications except for controlled substances and refrigerated medications.

COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CENTER AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/KINGS COUNTY ADOPTS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE LYMPHEDEMA PREVENTION

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County’s Comprehensive Breast Center has enhanced its efforts to prevent lymphedema with the adoption of the ImpediMed SOZO device, a non-invasive technology that can detect breast cancer–related lymphedema before visible swelling occurs. Early identification is critical, as intervention during the earliest stages can help prevent progression to chronic lymphedema and improve long-term outcomes. Each year, more than 310,000 individuals are newly diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Studies show that approximately one in five breast cancer patients will experience lymphedema, with up to 82 percent potentially at risk of developing arm lymphedema, depending on their treatment. Lymphedema is a potential complication following breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy. The integration of the SOZO device strengthens the hospital’s Lymphedema Prevention Program and supports ongoing efforts to provide high-quality, patient-centered cancer care.

The Comprehensive Breast Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County provides coordinated, multidisciplinary care for patients with benign and malignant breast conditions, offering services from screening and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. Staffed by board-certified breast surgeons and a dedicated team of specialists, the Center delivers compassionate, integrated, and evidence-based care in a single, centralized location. The adoption of new technologies reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to advancing patient care through innovation and best practices.

Services include:

• Screening and diagnostic breast imaging (mammography)
• Breast surgery
• Reconstructive surgery
• Breast pathology
• Medical oncology and chemotherapy
• Radiation oncology
• Survivorship services
• Genetic evaluation and testing
• Nutritional counseling
• Behavioral health support
• Supportive services and rehabilitation

NEW SIMULATION TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PROVIDERS ENCOUNTERING PATIENTS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER

NYC Health + Hospitals announced its new simulation training for Emergency Department providers to strengthen how they engage with patients living with opioid use disorder and those at risk of opioid overdose. Over 350 emergency department providers have participated in the training so far. The three-hour training comprises three scenarios by actors playing the role of patients experiencing consequences of opioid use, followed by a facilitated discussion to learn best clinical practices. The exercise trains providers on how to use person-centered, destigmatizing language with patients; screen patients for initiating buprenorphine, a life-saving treatment for opioid use disorder; and use tools in the electronic health record to streamline opioid treatment throughout the patient’s stay in the Emergency Department.

The training is offered at four facilities, including at NYC Health + Hospitals’ state-of-the-art Simulation Center, all of which provide simulation-based education to advance patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. This is the first of several initiatives led by NYC Health + Hospitals’ Addiction Services Workforce Training Program, which seek to promote a positive cultural and clinical shift in patient care for individuals living with opioid use disorder. The training is also part of NYC Health + Hospitals’ larger effort to incorporate behavioral health simulation training into various settings throughout the system to enhance health care professionals’ clinical skills and competence.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM LAUNCHES ITS 50TH COHORT

The Office of Patient Centered Care announced the 50th cohort of the Nurse Residency Program, which has enrolled more than 100 nurses, for a total of over 2,800 nurse residents enrolled in the program since it launched in 2019. The 12-month program provides newly hired nurses with specialized training, education, and mentoring and is a nationally recognized, evidence-based best practice for improving nurse satisfaction, performance, and retention. Prior to the program’s launch, the health care system’s staff nurse turnover rate was 46%. By 2025, the staff nurse turnover rate dropped to 12%, a clear indication of the program’s impact.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/GOTHAM HEALTH RECEIVES $750,000 FROM BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON AND DEPUTY SPEAKER AYALA

The renovations at Gotham Health, Belvis, will not only improve the aesthetic and functional aspects of the facility but also enhance accessibility and comfort for patients. By creating a more spacious, modern, and accessible environment, the project aims to reduce wait-times, improve patient flow, and make the health care experience more convenient and welcoming. The facility upgrades are also designed to accommodate future growth and evolving patient needs, ensuring Gotham Health can continue to provide vital services to the community for years to come. The project underscores Gotham Health’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality care in a patient-friendly setting.

Gotham Health, Belvis, was recently recognized for its clinical achievements, including being named a 2024 Hypertension Control Champion by Million Hearts for controlling blood pressure in over 80% of its adult hypertension patients. The facility also earned 2024 Target: BP Gold +, 2024 Type 2 Diabetes Gold, and 2024 Cholesterol Gold awards, reflecting its excellence in managing chronic conditions. In addition, Gotham Health, Belvis, recently installed a bone density scanner to assess patients’ risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Earlier this year, a wellness room was introduced for staff to promote their health and wellbeing.

These infrastructure improvements are expected to have lasting benefits for the local community, enhancing the overall patient experience and allowing Gotham Health to continue its work in improving health outcomes.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LAUNCHES SPECIAL PATHOGENS BIOPREPAREDNESS MAP TO MONITOR AND PREPARE FOR OUTBREAKS

NYC Health + Hospitals announced the launch of its Special Pathogens Biopreparedness Map, a new interactive, open-source tool that visualizes global outbreak activity to support clinicians, public health officials, and emergency management professionals in identifying and responding to special pathogen threats. In an increasingly interconnected world, a patient’s travel history can be the earliest — and one of the most critical — signal of potential exposure to a high-consequence infectious disease. The Special Pathogens Biopreparedness Map will provide near real-time information to the public health care system’s frontline teams to quickly connect patients’ travel histories with current outbreak activity and take the appropriate steps to stop disease transmission.

The map’s launch builds on NYC Health + Hospitals’ nationally recognized special pathogens capacity, including the recent designation of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Harlem, and Jacobi as National Special Pathogen System Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Centers, which expand the system’s ability to safely care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/JACOBI RECEIVES $25,000 IN NEW YORK STATE FUNDING FOR STAND UP TO VIOLENCE (SUV) PROGRAM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi announced that it has received $25,000 in New York State funding awarded by New York State Assembly Member Emerita Torres (D-Bronx, 85th District) to strengthen its Stand Up to Violence (SUV) program. SUV is one of the public health care System’s five Hospital-based Violence Interruption Programs (HVIP), and seeks to address the gun violence crisis in the Bronx by providing interruption, prevention, and community engagement services to impacted communities.

The Bronx has seen how the effects of gun violence has historically impacted the community, with an increase of youth who are impacted by gun-violence, especially youth of color. The funding awarded by Assembly Member Torres will provide critical resources to respond to the ongoing crisis more effectively and equitably. The funds will help expand outreach across high-need areas, targeting those who are at the highest risk for experiencing gun violence, and connecting the community to services that can help them achieve long-term stability, such as support for mental health and pathways for employment.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi provides patients who have experienced violence-related trauma with integrated care through a team of multidisciplinary experts, including physicians, social workers, hospital responders, and community outreach workers, to treat gun violence in the same way that we treat disease. While Jacobi Hospital is able to provide direct care to patients who are impacted, the hospital’s Stand Up to Violence program helps to prevent and intervene in disputes across the Bronx in an effort to decrease the impacts of gun-violence in the community.

NEWLY RENOVATED INPATIENT PEDIATRIC PLAYROOM AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/LINCOLN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln unveiled its newly redesigned and renovated pediatric playroom today, a project that was made possible by a generous donation from John Poon, in honor of his late wife, Dr. Maria A.L. Jocson, a Medical Resident at the hospital from 1990 to 1993.

The new playroom offers pediatric patients a vibrant, cheery, and therapeutic area to help promote socialization and decrease feelings of isolation. It includes the addition of child-friendly furniture, new toys, computers and wall gaming systems, artwork, and cosmetic upgrades emphasizing bright colors and natural light. The renovations create a therapeutic and joyful patient environment, promoting greater healing, social interaction, and overall well-being, while providing children with a sense of normalcy in an otherwise scary hospital environment. The newly renovated pediatric playroom will impact the more than 1,600 patients served in Lincoln’s inpatient pediatric units each year.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/JACOBI | NORTH CENTRAL BRONX EXPANDS MATERNAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx has expanded maternal health programs under its new Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Veronica Ades, MD, MPH. Appointed in April 2025, Dr. Ades brings over 20 years of experience to the role and a focus on prioritizing obstetrical quality and safety, innovation, and patient and staff satisfaction. Her appointment marks a return to the hospital where she did her residency.

Under Dr. Ades, Jacobi and North Central Bronx Hospitals now offer shared appointments for mother and baby to make it easier for mothers with newborns to maintain their postpartum medical care. New mothers must ensure they continue care for both themselves and their baby post-partum, but many patients in the community encounter obstacles with taking time off work, transportation, and the cost of child care. Since Jacobi Hospital began offering shared mother-baby appointments, attendance for the postpartum appointments (generally 6 to 8 weeks after childbirth) has increased from 54% to 78%. In addition, the practice has encouraged patients to come in person for an appointment one week after childbirth instead of a telehealth appointment; these have an attendance of 89%.

Furthermore, the hospitals’ OB/GYN department has had lectures on trauma-informed care to increase awareness and training for OB/GYN staff and will be hiring more reproductive psychologists within the department. Expanding mental health care that is specifically integrated into the OB/GYN unit will help to ensure accessibility for pregnant and postpartum women to access psychiatric medications that are safe during pregnancy, as well as tailoring their treatment of symptoms from pregnancy that could impact mental health, or symptoms that affect their mental health, postpartum. Since 2022, Jacobi Hospital’s OB/GYN department has had an in-house psychologist, who focuses on providing care to women who are or were recently pregnant.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE TRAINS NEARLY 500 PROFESSIONALS TO STRENGTHEN SPECIAL PATHOGEN READINESS ACROSS HHS REGION 2

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue trained close to 500 health care and public health professionals across four jurisdictions in 2025 to respond to high-consequence infectious disease threats. As the federally designated Regional Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Center (RESPTC) for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 2, Bellevue Hospital delivered hands-on education in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), patient isolation, laboratory safety, and emergency transport to health care professionals working in health care facilities across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). These trainings support HHS Region 2 preparedness efforts in advance of the more than one million international visitors expected for 2026 World Cup events at MetLife Stadium.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN HOSTS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan hosted 40 Master of Public Health students from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health to connect soon-to-be graduates for a Public Health Fireside Chat with the hospital’s senior leadership. The conversation, facilitated by Metropolitan Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Julian S. John, MPA, Chief Operating Officer Elsa Cosme, MBA, and Metropolitan Hospital Auxiliary President Betsy Mendez White, MPH, covered the importance of community-based care, hospital leadership, innovation, and public service within the nation’s largest public health system.

The event provided students with firsthand insight into the role of a safety-net hospital within a larger public health care ecosystem. Metropolitan Hospital leadership discussed the daily operational and strategic decisions that shape care delivery, particularly in an under-served community like East Harlem where residents have higher rates of preventable health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, HIV, certain cancers, as well as lower rates of health care access and insurance coverage.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN HOSTS ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOY GIVEAWAY FOR MORE THAN 1,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan held its annual holiday toy giveaway and has distributed gifts to over 1,000 children and families this past holiday season. The event is part of Metropolitan Hospital’s ongoing efforts to support local families during a time of year when community need is high and the spirit of giving is in focus. This year’s toy drive was made possible through the generous support of MetroPlusHealth, the Metropolitan Hospital Auxiliary, and Municipal Credit Union (MCU). New York City Council Member-elect Elsie Encarnacion (District 8) and New York State Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs (District 68), joined staff and Santa Claus to distribute presents and spread holiday cheer.

SEANNA-KAYE DENHAM WILKS, PHD, FPCC APPOINTED CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/MCKINNEY

NYC Health + Hospitals announced the appointment of Seanna-Kaye Denham Wilks, PhD, FPCC as the new Chief Operations Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney. She joins McKinney with nearly 20 years of experience in health care leadership. Prior to joining McKinney, Dr. Denham Wilks served as Chief Experience Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, overseeing the hospital-wide strategy for patient experience, employee engagement, and special projects, demonstrating a proven track record in transforming patient experiences and strengthening organizational excellence in employee engagement, leadership development, and survey science. As COO at McKinney, Dr. Denham Wilks will work with the administrative and clinical leadership to develop and implement the facility’s strategic plan. Her portfolio includes environmental services, emergency management, hospital police, laundry and linen, food services, facilities management, and therapeutic recreation. She began her new role on January 5.

ARTS IN MEDICINE UPDATE

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS UNVEILS NEW SYSTEMWIDE COLLABORATIVE MURAL CREATED BY ITS FIVE HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS

NYC Health + Hospitals today unveiled If We Dreamed: A Journey for Peace in Our Streets, a first-of-its-kind systemwide mural created in collaboration with its Hospital-based Violence Interruption Programs (HVIP) and Arts in Medicine department to represent the public health care system’s commitment to addressing violence and healing impacted communities. The mural — created by artists Shenna Vaughn and William Bentley of Vaughn Bentley Creative in collaboration with more than 75 youth participants and staff with HVIP programs at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, Jacobi, Kings, Lincoln, and Woodhull — honors HVIP programs’ shared mission to break cycles of violence by providing interruption, prevention, and community engagement services that heal victims’ trauma and build safer, more peaceful communities.

The original work will be displayed at Woodhull Hospital with replicas installed at Harlem, Jacobi, Kings, and Lincoln Hospitals. This latest installment of Arts in Medicine’s Community Mural Project — considered to be the largest public hospital mural program in the country — is the inaugural debut of a mural created through a systemwide collaboration. The first wave of the Community Mural Project is featured in the book Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project

2019-2021. This and other murals at NYC Health + Hospitals can be viewed on Bloomberg Connects. The Community Mural Project is made possible through the support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS UNVEILS NEW COMMUNITY MURAL AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST

NYC Health + Hospitals unveiled a new mural as part of the Community Mural Project run by the health System’s Arts in Medicine department. The mural, Our Stories, is located in the outdoor area of the Adolescent Inpatient Behavioral Health unit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, and artist Emma Daisy Gertel developed the mural in collaboration with the patients and staff of the unit. Today’s mural is one of 49 murals that have been created at NYC Health + Hospitals since 2019. The first wave of the Community Mural Project is featured in a book, Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project 2019-2021. This and other murals at NYC Health + Hospitals can be viewed on Bloomberg Connects. Our Stories is made possible through the support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and the enCourage Kids Foundation.

Developed in collaboration with youth participants through workshops, the design of Our Stories centers on the affirmation “Tell Your Story” — a phrase chosen collectively to reflect acceptance, belonging, and self-expression. Each flower in the mural was selected by the patients, who explored the symbolism of blooms to find those that resonated with their experiences and aspirations: yarrow for healing, nasturtium for victory, gladiolus for integrity, black-eyed Susan for encouragement, snowdrop for hope, chrysanthemum for truth, geranium for comfort, borage for courage, and rose for love. These symbols come together to form a shared visual language — a garden of stories that honors individuality while celebrating growth and transformation. Installed on the unit’s private outdoor recreation area, the mural creates a space of reflection and encouragement. Every flower carries a story and together, they form a garden of lived experiences, a place where voices and stories matter.

METROPLUSHEALTH UPDATE

STRATEGIC MIGRATION: ADVANCING METROPLUSHEALTH’S TECHNOLOGY INDEPENDENCE

In early February 2026, MetroPlusHealth will complete a major technology milestone: the transition of its IT systems from NYC Health + Hospitals to an independent MetroPlusHealth-managed network. This migration represents a strategic investment in security, resilience, and operational autonomy— critical enablers of sustainable growth and innovation.

Decoupling MetroPlusHealth’s systems from NYC Health + Hospitals significantly reduces shared technology risk, ensuring that a security or operational event affecting one organization cannot impact the other. This independence strengthens MetroPlusHealth’s security position while enabling faster decision-making and more agile deployment of technology solutions tailored to its unique business and regulatory needs. Just as importantly, this network migration establishes a stronger foundation for future innovation, positioning MetroPlusHealth to respond quickly to evolving industry demands, regulatory requirements, and member expectations.

This transition will deliver:

• Enhanced data security by eliminating shared access points and dependencies, reducing the risk of breaches between organizations
• Greater control over our technological environment
• Improved operational efficiency through systems designed specifically for MetroPlusHealth workflows

Key Components of the Transition:

• New Secure VPN: Providing secure remote access for employees
• New Virtual Desktop Environment: Maintaining secure access to essential H+H resources when required
• MetroPlusHealth-Managed Network Connectivity: Including web access and content filtering to enhance security, visibility, and compliance

With this IT transition milestone, MetroPlusHealth now has a secure, resilient digital foundation that drives innovation, supports long-term growth, and strengthens its ability to serve members.

METROPLUSHEALTH SURVEY FINDS NEW YORKERS FACE HARD CHOICES BETWEEN HEALTH CARE AND COST OF LIVING

A recent MetroPlusHealth Care Crunch Index survey conducted by MetroPlusHealth revealed that rising health care costs have forced many New Yorkers to make tough choices between their health and everyday expenses. The survey found that 42% of New Yorkers have significantly cut back on leisure or lifestyle spending due to rising health care costs, with approximately a third carrying medical debt. Nearly half of respondents (46%) said that they could not afford an unexpected $1,000 medical bill without going into debt. MetroPlusHealth offers dozens of affordable health plans and generous Over the Counter benefits designed to help New Yorkers experiencing financial hardship, including those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance. MetroPlusHealth’s robust network of primary care doctors and specialists provides members with quality health care at little to no cost.

The Care Crunch Index — which surveyed 1,010 adults in the five boroughs and nearby New York counties — was conducted in November 2025. The survey found that New Yorkers are worried about the cost of health care; 21%of respondents said that health care costs are difficult to afford. The survey also found that affordability varies across racial and ethnic groups.

The Care Crunch Index shows that while many New Yorkers said that they understand how health insurance works, far fewer were confident about when they can change their coverage.

Open enrollment knowledge was lowest among younger, lower income and less educated New Yorkers.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS UPDATE

City

On January 1, 2026 Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as Mayor of New York City. NYC Health + Hospitals is working closely with the new administration on transition and briefings to continue driving forward NYC Health + Hospital projects, programs, and strategic goals.

State

It is a busy time in Albany. The NYS Legislature is back in session; the Governor released her State of the State agenda, and has proposed a $260 billion all funds budget for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27, which begins April 1, 2026. The proposed executive budget represents a 0.7% spending increase on an all-funds basis over the current fiscal year and reflects an increase in Medicaid of about $3.9B or ~11%.

We are pleased that the Governor has proposed to make additional investments for our health care providers. The Governor proposes to authorize up to $1.5 billion total funds to hospitals and nursing homes and an increased allocation for health centers. We are requesting further changes that either address concerns due to H.R. 1 or align with the broader goals of empowering health care providers and promoting cost-effective care in this challenging moment. These changes would focus on simplifying that restrict workforce flexibility, increase costs, and creates barriers to patient care.

As the process proceeds, we will continue advocating for support of NYC Health + Hospitals and the patients and communities we serve. We are grateful to the Governor and DOH, as well as our partners in the State legislature who understand the critical role our safety net system plays. We also appreciate our Community Advisory Boards for their support in these important efforts.

Federal

Federal funding expires on January 31, and Congress must pass a funding package to avoid a government shutdown. This week, the House passed a package that includes the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill, as well as a number of notable health extenders.

The Senate will also need to vote. The healthcare extenders that we have advocated for include:

1. Eliminate the Medicaid DSH reductions for federal fiscal years 2026 and 2027, totaling $16 billion for the two years, and delay the effective date for the remaining year of cuts until Oct. 1, 2027, for a total national cut of $8 billion.
2. Extend telehealth flexibilities through 2027.
3. Extend Hospital at Home program through 2030.

Community Affairs

The Community Relations Committee of the Board of Directors received reports in January from the Community Advisory Boards at Carter, East New York, Kings County, and Queens hospitals. The Council of CABs met on January 14 and are planning their advocacy efforts to support NYC Health + Hospitals and the communities it serves. Several CABs are scheduling meetings with their NYS elected officials over the coming month to discuss the impact of the NYS budget on their facility and community, and some CABs are working with their facility to host legislative forums.

Philanthropy

The Philanthropy team successfully raised $10.5 million in 2025 to advance programs and initiatives throughout the health system, further strengthening our mission and our ability to provide high-quality care to all New Yorkers, without exception. This work includes the Allied Care Coordination initiative, supported by the Care Coordination Fund at The New York Community Trust, which improves care for individuals experiencing homelessness with complex health needs; the Prenatal Through Age Three program, supported by the Roots & Wings Foundation, which provides expecting mothers and their children with essential services from the very beginning; and BH4NYC, supported by various donors, which offers loan repayment to behavioral health providers in exchange for a service commitment to the health system.

We sincerely thank all our partners who have supported and stood by our health system this past year. This progress reflects sustained effort over time by our small team, and we are encouraged to see so much come together as this work continues to move forward. Every gift, regardless of size, is a vital part of this collective success and remains essential to the work we do for our patients.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYSTEM

• New York Times: Mamdani Nominates Top City Lawyer and Deputy Mayor of Health
• New York Post: Baby New Year! Couple welcomes baby girl in Harlem at the stroke of midnight
• AP: Flu season surged in the US over the holiday and already rivals last winter’s harsh epidemic
• Gothamist: Mayor commits to Just Home, Bronx supportive housing project
• El Diario: Free or Low-Cost Clinics for Hispanics in NYC
• McKnight’s Long Term Care: Yakovleva named CEO of one of nation’s largest nursing homes
• Behavioral Health News: Transforming Access Through Strategic Investment in Behavioral Health Workforce Development
• New York Post: NYC Mayor unveils $4M plan to open NYC youth health clinics
• Becker’s Hospital Review: NYC Health + Hospitals growth chief joins AI startup Akido Labs
• Bronx Times: NYC Health + Hospitals expands maternal care programs at Bronx campuses
• Voz Hispana News: NYC Health + Hospitals Establishes Program to Expand Comprehensive and Collaborative Care for Women Suffering from Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain
• Roosevelt Islander: Nataliya Yakoleva Appointed New Chief Executive Officer of NY Health + Hospitals Coler Rehab & Nursing Facility On Roosevelt Island
• Becker’s Hospital Review: 274 hospital and health system CNOs to know | 2025
• Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Health + Hospitals/Kings County adopts new method of cancer-related lymphedema detection
• Brooklyn Paper: ‘Therapy for the Soul’: Woodhull Medical Center unveils first-of-its-kind systemwide mural
• Norwood News: NYC North Central Bronx & Jacobi Medical Center Welcome First Babies of the New Year
• New York Times: 4 Ways to Eat More Fiber
• New York Times: One Sleep Habit Experts Wish You Would Adopt
• Eating Well: What Women Can Do for Better Blood Pressure
• The Brown Planet: New Respiratory Tracker Helps Americans Stay Ahead of RSV, Flu & COVID—Free, Bi-Weekly, and Easy to Understand
• Becker’s Hospital Review: NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Launches Pharmacy Home Delivery Program Across New York City
• Gothamist: The flu is surging in NYC. Here’s what to do if you’re sickened.
• AMNY: PHOTOS: Metropolitan Hospital hosts annual holiday toy drive