Crain's New York Business Names Three NYC Health + Hospitals Executives and MetroPlus CEO to "Crain's Notable Women in Health Care" List
The executives were recognized for their contributions to the public health system's transformation
Aug 05, 2019
Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, MS, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at NYC Health + Hospitals, Michelle Lewis, CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Maureen E. McClusky, Senior Vice President of Post-Acute Care at NYC Health + Hospitals, and Talya Schwartz, MD, President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth were named as four of Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Health Care. All four honorees were recognized for their contribution to the public health system’s transformation – a comprehensive, multi-year redesign to build a competitive, sustainable organization that will continue to offer high-quality and accessible health care to the people of New York City. The Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Health Care honor executives, researchers, and clinicians who have had a profound impact through work in their careers and in their communities throughout New York City. The Notable Women in Health Care honoree program recognizes 50 women across a spectrum of health care organizations, from hospitals and nonprofits to medical colleges and health care groups in the New York City metropolitan area.
“We’re honored to have four executives included on “Crain’s Notable Women in Health Care” list,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “The City’s public health system is only as successful as the people who work to improve access so all New Yorkers can benefit from the care offered.”
“The “Crain’s Notable Women in Health Care” recognition is a reflection of the amazing health care system I am fortunate enough to be a part of,” said Dr. Natalia Cineas, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Being in the company of Michelle, Maureen, and Tayla highlights the impressive and tireless talent that contribute to the country’s largest health care system.”
“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized for this award” said Michelle Lewis, CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “I am proud to work with such a dedicated group of staff, clinicians, and team members to support our mission. It’s important to me that we continue our work of providing high quality, affordable care to all New Yorkers.”
“I am deeply humbled to be recognized for this award. As with all accomplishments, it is a team effort,” said Maureen McClusky, Senior Vice President of Post-Acute Care at NYC Health + Hospitals. “I would like to thank my post-acute team and the leadership of NYC Health + Hospitals for their vision and unwavering support. Being part of this amazing public health system, with a mission to serve our most vulnerable New Yorkers, is truly an honor.”
“It is a great honor to be recognized by Crain’s for my work in health care,” said Talya Schwartz, MD, President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth Health Plan. “To be recognized along such exceptionally accomplished women, all of whom are dedicated to our profession – including three of my colleagues from NYC Health + Hospitals – only adds to my gratitude at being named to this list.”
“Congratulations to these women for this well-deserved recognition,” said Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried. “This honor reflects their work in transforming the health care system to ensure accessible, sustainable, high-quality care for NYC Health + Hospitals patients throughout the City.
“Congratulations to honorees Dr. Natalia Cineas, Michelle Lewis, Maureen E. McClusky and Dr. Talya Schwartz,” said NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm. “Their contributions have helped bolster the level of care NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst provides to my constituents on a daily basis. I am pleased that they have received this well-deserved recognition and join Crain’s New York Business in applauding their excellent work.”
As Chief Nursing Executive, Dr. Natalia Cineas is the leader of the more than 9,000 nurses at NYC Health + Hospitals since taking her post in March 2019. Dr. Cineas’s first order of business was to retain the nurses in the organization and recruit more. She almost immediately launched Nurse4NYC, a campaign focusing on four high-need specialty areas where nurses are needed the most: Emergency Room/Trauma; Ambulatory Care; Home Care; and Correctional Health Services/Behavioral Health. Dr. Cineas is a board-certified Nurse Leader with more than 15 years in health care administration. She most recently served as Senior Director of Nursing and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s. She began her career at Columbia University Medical Center New York Presbyterian Hospital where she served in various roles including the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, as a Quality Management Specialist for the Cardiothoracic Department, Care Director of Neurosurgery and the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit.
Michelle Lewis, as a transformation leader, provides direction and coordination for a broad range of initiatives to advance NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health’s vision and organizational success. Through her leadership and vision Ms. Lewis is making significant contributions to Gotham Health’s strategic direction by driving change across the network. Ms. Lewis is an accomplished healthcare administrator, who is recognized for her visionary leadership. She has over 20 years of experience in leading people, building teams, project management, and expanding healthcare programs. Prior to joining NYC Health + Hospitals, Ms. Lewis worked for New York Presbyterian Health Systems, where she held various position, including overseeing the Emergency Services Department and the Community – Based Ambulatory Care Health Centers.
Maureen McClusky has spent more than 25 years working in a variety of hospital, community and post-acute healthcare settings. She joined NYC Health + Hospital system in April 2016, where she oversees post-acute and continuing care operations for the nation’s largest public healthcare provider. Prior to that, she directed operations at ArchCare’s specialty in-patient facility, Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center in East Harlem, and she was Executive Director for Northwell Health for 11 years before, developing clinical and business affiliations with community health partners to improve care transitions between acute and post-acute settings. Ms. McClusky also worked at the St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children in Queens, and at the Bergen Regional Medical Center in New Jersey.
Dr. Talya Schwartz was appointed President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth Health Plan in May of 2019. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Schwartz has served as the Chief Medical Officer at MetroPlusHealth, leading the Medical Management division. Under her leadership MetroPlusHealth ranked among the top plans in the State for quality. She transformed the care management program into a holistic, field-based program that now also addresses social determinants of health with special focus on housing for its homeless population. Dr. Schwartz joined MetroPlusHealth from the private sector. She has been a founding member of a behavioral health technology startup company and prior to that served in various leadership roles in regional and national health plans.
Since 1985, MetroPlusHealth Health Plan has built a reputation for providing access to affordable, quality health care to residents of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. A wholly-owned subsidiary of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest public health system, MetroPlusHealth is the plan of choice for over half a million New Yorkers. The health plan’s robust network of primary care doctors and specialists includes many independent community providers. Culturally sensitive, and fluent in more than 40 languages, MetroPlusHealth staff is as diverse as the great city it serves. For more information about MetroPlusHealth plans, benefits, and services, visit www.MetroPlusHealth.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/MetroPlusHealth and twitter @MetroPlusHealth.