To relocate from Chicago.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has chosen Dr. Ramanathan Raju to head the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. as its president.
The Mayor has been revealing a flurry of appointments as his administration begins its term at the helm of the Big Apple. Along with Raju’s appointment yesterday, de Blasio announced that Maria Torres-Springer would serve as Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services.
“We sought out progressive, proven leaders who are committed to serving diverse communities across this city,” the Mayor said of hiring Raju. “[In] bringing new community health care clinics to low-income neighborhoods, our approach will be the same: We will lift up every community. This will be one city, where everyone rises together”
Raju is current the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago’s Cook County Health and Hospital Service, and was previously the Chief Operating Officer of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. that he is now returning to. The esteemed New York City healthcare system is a $6 billion enterprise, which Raju will now be the overseer of.
Specifically, Raju’s job will comprise mainly of improving the standards of healthcare in all of the facilities around the city, and finding ways to provide more primary care at the “neighborhood level.” Raju must first, however, be ratified by the board of the New York City HHC – that ratification is expected to happen by the end of January, with Raju assuming his new posting shortly thereafter.
“I am excited to return to the Health and Hospitals Corporation,” said Raju in a statement. “Under my leadership, the HHC will continue its mission of ensuring New Yorkers have access to quality health care options—from major hospitals to neighborhood clinics—no matter where they live.”
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com