NYC Health + Hospitals Leaders Named to Becker’s 2026 “Rising Stars: 188 Healthcare Leaders to Know Under 40” List
Recognition highlights emerging leaders in bringing fresh perspectives to stubborn problems, challenging conventions that no longer serve patients, and driving change with urgency
Oct 07, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals announced that Komal Lodaria, Senior Director of System Care Experience, and Christopher G. Wilson, MSN, RN. Chief Nursing Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “188 healthcare leaders under 40” list for 2026. The recognition honors talented emerging leaders who represent some of the most dynamic, creative and forward-thinking minds working across the healthcare industry today.
Komal Lodaria leads patient experience and employee engagement initiatives across every care setting at NYC Health + Hospitals, from inpatient and emergency care to post-acute, ambulatory surgery, behavioral health and community services. Under Lodaria’s direction, the system’s 2025 employee feedback survey achieved a 59% response rate, capturing 35,693 voices and raising the engagement score to 3.83 out of 5.00. With Lodaria’s support and visioning, the “ICARE with Kindness” initiative has trained more than 33,000 employees, with 39,000 pledging to uphold the system’s core values. Lodaria’s work, in collaboration with Chief Experience Officers across the system, has driven double-digit gains in patient satisfaction, including an 11-percentile-point increase in the emergency department’s overall rating of care and a 15-point increase in post-acute patients’ likelihood to recommend. Lodaria also helped all 11 of the system’s acute care hospitals achieve significantly higher Google star ratings. In 2023, Lodaria earned the “Gage Honorable Mention Award” for quality improvement from America’s Essential Hospitals for a care-improvement contest that increased physician and nursing communication systemwide. Lodaria previously served as director, assistant director and program manager of care experience at NYC Health + Hospitals after beginning her career as an organizational change management associate at VNS Health in New York City.
Christopher G. Wilson, MSN, RN, CNML, CENP, NEA-BC, FACHE serves as CNO and Deputy Executive Director of Nursing & Patient Care Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the 1,215 bed flagship level 1 academic medical center of the largest public health system in the U.S. In this role, he provides strategic, operational, and professional oversight of nursing and patient care services across one of the nation’s most complex and historic safety-net hospitals, advancing excellence in quality, safety, workforce development, and equitable care delivery. Prior, he served in the same role at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. Under his leadership, Metropolitan became the first hospital nationally to earn the ANCC Pathway to Excellence with Distinction designation, and achieved multiple GOLD Beacon Awards for its ICU and NICU, and other designation, demonstrating sustained nursing excellence across service lines. Wilson also reduced agency nursing staff, cut RN turnover, expanded the hospital’s education department from two to 14 educators, and recruited leaders and RNs. Wilson received the 2023 “Claire Murray Best Practice Award” from the New York Association of Nurse Leaders. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Nursing Practice.
“Being recognized as a Becker’s Rising Star is a tremendous honor and a meaningful reflection of the people, mentors and colleagues who have supported me throughout my journey,” said Komal Lodaria, Senior Director of System Care Experience at NYC Health + Hospitals. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to NYC Health + Hospitals and to be part of a team that is committed to advancing the healthcare experience for both the workforce, and the community members we serve. This recognition motivates me to continue learning, growing and making a meaningful impact.”
“Congratulations to the leaders on this well-deserved recognition as a Becker’s Rising Star,” said Hillary Jalon, Vice President, Quality Management at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Their dedication, professionalism and commitment to making a meaningful impact are evident in everything they do. We are fortunate to have them as part of the NYC Health + Hospitals team, and I’m excited to see all that they will continue to accomplish”
“Being named to Becker’s Rising Stars list is an incredible honor and a reflection of the meaningful work being done across NYC Health + Hospitals,” said Christopher G. Wilson, MSN, RN. CNO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “I’m proud to be recognized alongside so many talented healthcare professionals who are helping shape the future of healthcare. This recognition is both humbling and motivating as I continue working to make a positive impact for the patients and communities we serve.”
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth —all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.