Dr. Richard Park founded CityMD with a vision to make New York health care more inclusive, accessible, and convenient. As CEO, Dr. Park paired high-quality services with a consumer-first model of health care, and was able to guide the company through the rapid growth that followed. After expanding the company throughout New York and New Jersey, Dr. Park sold CityMD, which merged with Summit Medical Group and is now known as Summit Health. Dr. Park went on to co-found Ascend Partners, a health care-focused private equity partnership.
Frank Proscia
President, Doctors Council SEIU
Dr. Frank Proscia leads the country’s largest union for doctors, representing physicians across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. He has advocated for paid sick leave legislation as well as protections to ensure that immigrants receive quality care. After growing up in New York City, Dr. Proscia pursued psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine before ascending the ladder of the Doctors Council SEIU. He was elected union president in 2014.
Kenneth Raske
President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater New York Hospital Association
As president and chief executive officer of the Greater New York Hospital Association, Kenneth Raske represents over 250 hospitals and care facilities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Mr. Raske leads GNYHA in its ongoing efforts to protect sources of health care funding, to oppose Medicare cutbacks, and to expand health insurance coverage for low-income communities and the underinsured. Mr. Raske also fought attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in 2017.
Sarah Ravenhall
Executive Director, New York State Association of County Health Officials
Sarah Ravenhall, M.H.A., C.H.E.S., is executive director at the New York State Association of County Health Officials, a nonprofit membership association representing all 58 local health departments in the State. In her role, Sarah is responsible for operational oversight, membership satisfaction, partnership development and utilizing innovative strategies to advance the mission and vision forward. Sarah takes great pride in serving as the voice for governmental local public health agencies on both state and national levels.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Working with our members, the County Health Officials in New York State to advance public health policies that directly impact communities in New York State.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Spinning is challenging and so much fun, especially when you have the right playlist.
Do you have a favorite healthy meal?
Grilled salmon and spinach-but any fish and veggie combo is always a win.
Gustavo Rivera
Chair, New York State Senate Health Committee
State Senator Gustavo Rivera represents the 33rd Senate District in the Bronx. Since taking office, Senator Rivera has focused on addressing issues of health inequity. In 2018, Senator Rivera became the Chair of the Senate Health Committee. In his role, he collaborates with colleagues, stakeholders, and constituents to improve health outcomes, increase access to health coverage, and ensure a financially viable health care system. He is also the sponsor of the “New York Health Act.”
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Whether it be through legislative efforts or constituent services, the most rewarding part of my job is being able to improve the lives of my neighbors in the 33rd Senate District.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Strength training on my Tonal.
Do you have a favorite healthy meal?
Veggie omelette with lots of hot sauce.
Carlina Rivera
Chair, New York City Council Committee on Hospitals
During her time representing the 2nd Council District, Carlina Rivera has introduced and passed legislation related to sexual harassment, immigration, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, small business survival, and bicycle safety. Carlina began her career in afterschool programming, working with children at some of New York City’s highest-needs schools. Carlina has a history of bringing people together to improve the lives, resources and well-being of the residents of Manhattan’s East Side, and has already secured millions of dollars for her district to improve services, programs, schools and cultural institutions.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Representing the community that raised me.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Hot Yoga – I take classes at Fierce Grace.
Do you have a favorite healthy meal?
I love the Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl.
Ursula Rozum
Co-Director, Campaign for New York Health
Ursula earned her B.A. in political science and Hispanic literature from McGill University. She began political organizing through voter registration during the 2008 Obama campaign before managing several campaigns for the Green Party, including Hawkins for Governor in 2014. Ursula won 8.2% of the vote in her 2012 third party Congressional run. She joined Campaign for New York Health as a volunteer in 2015 and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Being able to support grassroots advocates to tap into their own power, share their health care stories and see the impact they can have on building support for making health care a guaranteed right.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Beach volleyball.
Do you have a favorite healthy meal?
Tacos.
David Sandman
President and Chief Executive Officer, New York State Health Foundation
David Sandman, Ph.D., is president and CEO of the New York State Health Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to improving the health of all New Yorkers. Since 2006, NYSHealth has invested more than $165 million to improve the public health system. NYSHealth is also committed to sharing the results and lessons of its grantmaking; informing policy and practice through timely, credible analysis and commentary; and serving as a convener of health care leaders and stakeholders throughout the state.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Turning an idea into reality that makes people healthy and able to thrive.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Riding my bike; fist pumping to cheer on the Mets!
Do you have a favorite healthy meal?
Grilled salmon and asparagus.
Dan Savitt
President and Chief Executive Officer, Visiting Nurse Service of New York
As president and CEO of VNSNY, Dan Savitt oversees one of the largest not-for-profit home- and community-based health care organizations in the U.S. Serving the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, VNSNY offers a comprehensive array of programs and health plans designed to meet the diverse health care needs of their patients, clients and health plan members. On any given day, more than 40,000 New Yorkers receive VNSNY care.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
As CEO, I get to focus daily on the best ways to improve health outcomes and access to care for New Yorkers. Working with our dedicated teams to shape, improve and deliver that care is hugely rewarding. To positively impact someone’s experience of health care and healing—at any stage of life—is a gift.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
I love lifting weights with my adult sons and running with my wife.
Do you have a favorite healthy meal?
Eating healthy organic foods is important to me and I try to stay gluten free. Thai food is often a go-to healthy meal.
Leonard Schleifer
Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Since founding Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in 1988, Dr. Leonard Schleifer has served as the company’s president and chief executive officer, overseeing its evolution from a start-up to a $50 billion company. With nine FDA-approved medicines, as well as a COVID-19 treatment authorized for emergency use, Regeneron has established itself as a cutting-edge pharmaceutical company under Dr. Schleifer’s leadership. After earning his M.D. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Virginia, Dr. Schleifer practiced neurology before founding Regeneron.
