2023 Power Players in Health Care

Glenn Liebman has been the CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) for the past 20 years. MHANYS has worked to end the stigma of mental health issues including working with schools to mandate the teaching of mental health instruction. They have also been very involved with workforce advocacy including fighting for cost of living adjustments for the workforce and additional bonuses. They are also very involved with statewide training around family engagement and Mental Health First Aid.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
I witnessed how people with mental health concerns were rarely treated with respect and often stigmatized or discriminated against. Also, their families were often unnecessarily blamed for their loved ones’ illnesses. I felt that for many years the system has betrayed individuals and their loved ones

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
While there are many struggles, workforce continues to be the top issue. It is very difficult to recruit and retain quality staff members. The vacancy and turnover rates in our field have reached a crisis level. Until we pay people commensurate with their responsibilities, we will keep losing quality staff. Governor Hochul has been a champion of mental health and we look forward to working with her on workforce issues.

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
I work to help people with mental health issues recover and live productive lives in their communities and help support family members who have been ignored for many years. We work as agents of change to have health policy reflect the importance of mental health in the continuum of care

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
They should work with advocates to change the wage school for the behavioral health workforce. Ensure that there are yearly cost of living adjustments and bonuses in place for the workers in our field. Then, develop long term strategies to address the needs of our people including a $500 million investment in our workforce which is equivalent to the cost of living adjustments in statute that have been ignored for many years.

Eric Linzer has been the president and CEO of the New York Health Plan Association since 2018. The organization represents 27 health plans that provide comprehensive health care coverage to more than eight million New Yorkers. Linzer is responsible for the development of policy positions for the organization, advocacy with the executive and legislative branches of government, and serves as lead spokesperson to the media and the public on issues relating to the managed care industry.

Svetlana Lipyanskaya, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals | South Brooklyn Health, prioritizes access, quality, and patient-centered care. She aligned the organization’s mission, vision, and values and developed a strategic masterplan, which aims to establish the health campus as the preferred health care destination for 875,000 New Yorkers. Under her leadership, the new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital is now caring for patients and the Health & Wellness Institute is being renovated to enhance primary and specialty care.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
My family immigrated to the United States when I was a child. Our experiences with health care in our native country and growing up here in New York showed me how appropriate and timely health care affects every aspect of a person’s life. I grew up wanting to help, to care for my community so that they could care for themselves and their loved ones. 

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
Health care in NY, as in other parts of the country, is facing significant challenges. Costs are rising, staffing is challenged and the need for services is ever increasing. As an industry, we must continue to innovate to find the most efficient and effective ways to provide care to our population. Utilizing evolving technology to increase access, reduce patient harm and improve personal experience presents the best opportunities to improve the delivery of health care.

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
As the chief executive of South Brooklyn Health, my job is to keep people out of our hospital beds. This may sound odd coming from someone who heads up a 350 bed hospital, but my focus is on keeping people healthy and engaged in living their best lives. If we provide great preventative care for chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, our communities will thrive.

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
Policymakers should invest in public health and ensure adequate access to affordable, culturally appropriate health care services in underserved communities. But more importantly, we must continue to work to understand and combat the root causes of inequality in our society such as structural racism, poverty, food insecurity, safety, and access to educational opportunities.  Differences in health outcomes are just a symptom. Sustained progress will never be made unless we acknowledge and treat the underlying disease.  

Dr. Vicki LoPachin is the chief medical officer and senior vice president of the Mount Sinai Health System joining the organization in 2016. In this role, Dr. LoPachin oversees efforts to enhance the quality of care, safety and experience for all patients. Previously Dr. LoPachin served as chief medical officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital.  Dr. LoPachin earned her M.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and her MBA with distinction from Hofstra University.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
My passion for science and chemistry, in particular, led me to originally choose a career in pharmacy. That same passion drove me to desire additional education once I completed my pharmacy training. Medical school and a career as a physician allowed me to combine my deep love for science with wanting to make a genuine difference in people’s lives. Looking back, I am certain I made the right choice.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
While there are many challenges in today’s health care environment, one that I am particularly concerned about is the well-being of our health care teams.  Here in New York, we were the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and the toll of the pandemic on our teams has been profound.  In order to take care of our patients, we must take care of our workforce so that they can deliver the safe, high-quality care our patients deserve.  

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
As the Mount Sinai Health System chief medical officer, I lead a team of dedicated professionals who implement system-wide efforts to ensure the delivery of the highest standards of quality, safety, and experience for all patients, while also focusing on supporting our staff and faculty through the development of policies, procedures and processes that support optimal care delivery, the advancement of equity, and the well-being of our workforce.  

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
New York offers some of the best health care in the world – this care is given by outstanding teams in amazing facilities. It is critical that health care policy supports the delivery of this world-class care to all New Yorkers, not just those with private insurance.  Medicaid reimbursement, in particular, is an area that needs to be addressed to ensure safe, equitable care is broadly available.

As president and CEO of CVS Health, Karen Lynch draws on her 30+ years of experience in the health care industry to lead one of the largest health services companies, with nearly 10,000 pharmacies and 300,000 employees. Ms. Lynch is responsible every day for advancing the mission of CVS Health: to make health care more convenient and more personal. Ms. Lynch has served in the past as executive vice president of CVS Health and president of Aetna, and she is regularly acknowledged as one of the most powerful women in business.

Dr. Rashanna Lynch serves as interim president and CEO of Ryan Health and as its chief medical officer. Dr. Lynch is a highly experienced family medicine practitioner and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her patients and staff. As chief medical officer, she directs clinical functions, including overseeing medical staff, developing and planning health services, and achieving clinical quality goals. She has implemented the highest standards of professional medical care for the center’s patients.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
I was inspired to become a family medicine physician to work in the community and address the disparities that exist in the health care system. It means a great deal to me that my patients see someone who looks like them. I really enjoy my patient care and am proud to lead great clinicians and team members in breaking down barriers standing in the way of delivering equitable access to health care for communities of color.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
One of the biggest challenges facing New York is a lack of investment in primary care. The gateway to the health care system is through primary care, keeping families and communities healthy. High-quality primary care manages chronic diseases, preventing avoidable emergency room visits and hospitalizations, saving the health care system scarce resources. Yet last year, about 6.5 million New Yorkers resided in areas that do not have an adequate number of primary care providers.

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
I am currently interim president and CEO, so I oversee all the functions of a community health center that serves about 50,000 New Yorkers annually. In my permanent role as chief medical officer, I direct the clinical functions for Ryan Health. I’m fortunate to work alongside passionate and dedicated clinicians and innovative leaders whose mission is to provide the highest quality of care to everyone in the community regardless of their ability to pay.

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
I think policymakers can begin to ensure equitable access to care by making significant investments in primary care. That includes investments in our workforce that allow us to recruit, retain, and create a robust pipeline of professionals who want to work in primary care in the community. Policymakers also need to make certain that primary care is adequately reimbursed. Community health centers are currently seeking reimbursement rate reform and payment parity for telehealth visits.

Julie is an accomplished and deeply knowledgeable leader in the managed care sector with over two decades in the health care industry. She has held leadership positions at companies including Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, EmblemHealth, and is currently the regional president of Humana in the Northeast region. She is forward-thinking and promotes and protects the organizational mission and goals while maximizing productivity and revenues for high-nine figure business units.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
At the age of 13, my grandmother passed away from breast cancer and it impacted my entire family’s lives. My grandmother was just 64 years old and did not have access to care and the necessary support, education, and understanding of the health care system to get better. From then on, I made it my life’s mission to ensure no other family would be impacted and suffer the way she did.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
The biggest factor facing NY’s health care system is the push and pull between health care systems and payers. Both have the best intentions and want the same high-quality outcomes, however, the continued struggle for both to meet their financial needs to support communities and manage the patient continues to be the rub between companies. However, with strong partnerships and aligned goals, we can get there and work together.

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
When I’m asked what I do for work, I say “I help older people go to the doctor.” In my role as the regional president of Humana, I wake up every day to ensure that providers can help the members go to the doctor and gain the right care when they need it. Although I drive the financial and operational responsibilities, I ensure this simple task is completed in the most efficient and equitable way.

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
Policymakers need to be the voice of all their constituents including the patients needing services today and tomorrow, and the clinicians providing them the services. We will not be successful in NY if we do not engage with all parties and ensure we are hearing all sides. We need access to care, equitable payment and fair ways of working. We need our policymakers to be inclusive and compassionate to help this effort.

Christopher Mastromano presently serves as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals | Jacobi and North Central Bronx Hospitals, member facilities of the largest public health system in the country. He oversees a budget of over $950 million and a staff of more than 4,000. Under his leadership, both facilities were merged into a single-hospital-two-campus model. Mr. Mastromano and his wife Lynn, a registered nurse, reside in Glen Cove and enjoy ballroom dancing.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to help others. As a child, I was strongly influenced by the television show “Emergency”, which led me to begin my health care career as a NYC Paramedic. That portion of my career created the desire to lead others to improve the health of the communities I have worked in.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
The biggest challenge facing the health care systems in NY today is finding new ways to reach those most in need without prejudice. This includes but is not limited to, people experiencing homelessness, those with mental illness, and the members of our communities who do not know how to access preventative and ongoing health care besides an emergency room.

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
I think the best description I can use to inform others who do not work in health care is that I have the best career. My goal is to help frontline health care workers perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
One thing that our supportive policymakers can assist with is to help keep adequate funding available for safety net hospitals to offset the costs of delivering care to the uninsured. Continued funding will help us find ways to improve access to preventative and ongoing care

James McDonald, M.D., MPH, was appointed acting New York State commissioner of health on January 1, 2023, and confirmed as commissioner on June 10th, 2023. Prior to joining the NYS Department of Health in July of 2022, he served at the Rhode Island Department of Health since 2012 as interim director of health as well as medical director for the COVID unit and medical director for the Center for Customer Services and the Drug Overdose prevention program.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
I just want to help people. I know how powerless I feel whenever I’m sick, so I want to help people feel and stay well.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
New York, like other states, does not have a health care system, rather New York has a health care marketplace. Workforce is the biggest challenge, affecting access to care and the ability of hospitals and nursing homes to manage labor costs. Now is a good time to look at examples from other states about what works well. 

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
I am a public health physician. I do my best to help all the people, all of the time.

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
We need to thoughtfully address workforce issues and scope of practice. Strategies we employed during the pandemic, such as licensure compacts are long overdue in New York. We should look at strategies to improve access to oral health care and anesthesia services. In addition, we can adopt ideas from other states including expanding the population of people who can do routine medical tasks such as administering a vaccine or giving medication.

Sheldon McLeod has served as the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals | Kings County, since January 2018. He has held leadership positions at NYC Health + Hospitals, including serving as chief operating officer at both Kings County and North Central Bronx Hospitals, and chief transformation officer at Jacobi Medical Center. McLeod held positions at Montefiore Medical Center, NYC Department of Health, St. Luke’s/Roosevelt, and Primary Care Development Corporation. He serves on the board of the American Essential Hospitals.

What influenced you to pursue a career in the health care field?
My mother experienced a traumatic health experience. As a young man unable to make things better for her, I watched helplessly as she eventually succumbed to her condition. I’m proud to say she demonstrated dignity and strength, teaching her children a lesson in fortitude. This experience influenced me to try to make a difference in the lives of others, especially patients and their families. Paramount for the care we provide is quality and patient-centered experience.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing New York’s health care system?
Prevalent health conditions in NYC are similar to other cities and the nation, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and metabolic conditions (diabetes, etc.). However, NYC has a large black and brown community that experiences these conditions disproportionately, as well as a burgeoning immigrant community. Therefore, resources to invest in our health delivery system is our biggest challenge, especially since Health + Hospitals also provides a disproportionate amount of care to the city’s residents.

How do you describe your position to people outside of the health care industry?
As an American Essential Hospitals board member, I’ve learned that we have different operating structures, but face similar challenges. In discussions with others, I often speak of the privilege to serve in a capacity that seeks to ensure our community thrives; to bring limited resources, talented teams, innovation, and passion together in order to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. I think that we are doing that.

What can policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality health care?
In the absence of universal health care, it’s incumbent on policymakers to work together to address the complex barriers to effective health care delivery, such as ensuring access/coverage for all, addressing social determinants of health, and correcting workforce shortages in key clinical disciplines, especially in black and brown communities – necessary to improve health equity. Other urgent public health threats such as deaths from firearms plague urban and other communities and need to be prioritized.