David Rosenberg

Respect and Kindness

After several years as a psychiatrist in private practice, Dr. David Rosenberg was “yearning for a change, a deeper sense of purpose.” He came across an ad in The New York Times that intrigued him: a job listing for a staff psychiatrist at Rikers Island.

What began as a “spontaneous leap into the unknown” became a calling that would shape his professional identity and the lives of some of the most underserved people in New York City.

Twenty-five years later, Dr. Rosenberg is the director of the psychiatry service at what is now NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services. He oversees psychiatric providers across the massive Rikers complex – a diverse team of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants from across the United States and around the world – while managing clinical responsibilities for two of Rikers’ nine jails.

“Our patients find themselves in one of the most stressful periods of their lives, separated from their families and grappling with the uncertainties surrounding their legal situations.” Dr. Rosenberg says. The lack of community supports can exacerbate their mental health challenges, making the psychiatrist not just a medical provider but a lifeline.”

Dr. Rosenberg has been a passionate advocate who’s worked to improve discharge planning services so that mental health patients leave Rikers with the resources they need to transition back into their communities. His biggest challenge came in 2020, when COVID-19 forced a mass release and Dr. Rosenberg oversaw discharge prescriptions for nearly 300 individuals in a single day.

He often reflects back to his first day on the job. “Just smile,” he was told, “say ‘Good Morning’ to everyone and treat your patients, your co-workers and the officers with respect and kindness, and you’ll be just fine.”

That’s the advice he’s given to everyone who’s followed him over the past 25 years.

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