If ever there was a time to honor New York City’s healthcare professionals—who are indisputably the heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic—it is now.
Each and every day, for the past 17 months, doctors, nurses and hospital administrators bravely stood on the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis. During the darkest hours, they worked around the clock, increasing capacity to accommodate virus cases, mobilizing personal protective equipment, and providing telehealth services to patients. Scientists and drug companies labored tirelessly to develop and, ultimately, get approval for a vaccine, which New York City is trying to distribute equitably.
As we head into the second half of the year, with the ability to reflect on the pandemic and look confidently ahead to brighter days, we cannot overstate the role of the city’s healthcare professionals in helping us emerge from the pandemic. This year’s Notable in Healthcare edition recognizes their efforts in bringing us to this moment, as well as their numerous contributions apart from the crisis.
Included in this report are the leaders of some of the top hospitals and pharmaceutical companies in the world, right here in New York City. Among this group are the heads of insurance companies and nonprofit organizations, city officials, entrepreneurs, scientists and physicians. These honorees have distinguished themselves through their expertise and innovation. They have shown stamina and commitment.
To be sure, there is work still to be done to alleviate some of the healthcare disparities in the city. Many of the individuals in this report are trying to do just that. But with a health outlook that is better than anyone might have imagined a year ago, Crain’s honors a group of people who have devoted their lives to building a healthier future.
Chief executive officer, Summit Health
An innovator and visionary, Jeffrey Le Benger is the chief executive officer of Summit Health, the physician-led, patient-centric network formed by the 2019 merger between Summit Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group, and CityMD, an urgent care provider. Summit Health has played a critical role in helping communities get through the pandemic. In the face of overrun emergency rooms, millions of individuals turned to CityMD and Summit Health centers for Covid-19 testing and treatment. Le Benger is a founder and chairman of the Summit Medical Group Foundation, which provides free medical screenings and health care education for food pantry clients and others in underserved communities, scholarships and mentorship opportunities for students interested in health care careers, and comfort programs for cancer patients.