NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Convenes Eight Latin American Consulates for Health Care Summit
The hospital is deepening its outreach to immigrant and Hispanic communities while strengthening health care access through community partnerships
62% of patients at Metropolitan Hospital identify as Hispanic or Latino
Sep 21, 2026
New York, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan recently hosted the inaugural 2026 Met Nation Summit, bringing together representatives from eight Latin American consulates, MetroPlusHealth, and hospital leaders to discuss health care access, trust, and community partnerships.
Led by Marcos Bucio Mújica, Consul General of Mexico in New York, the summit marked the first event of its scale hosted by Metropolitan Hospital. The discussion centered on health care as a human right and the role of trusted institutions in connecting immigrant and Hispanic communities with reliable health information, resources in their preferred languages, and care. In addition to Mexico, the Consulates for Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay participated in the event.
At Metropolitan Hospital, 62% of patients identify as Hispanic or Latino. The summit focused on diabetes education, language barriers, health equity, and trust. Partners discussed ways to expand community education, improve language access, and strengthen connections to care.
Julian John, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, spoke about health equity and the importance of support and trust within Latin American and Hispanic communities. Metropolitan Hospital outlined a partnership model to connect immigrant communities with health care and emphasized the importance of meeting patients where they are. Elsa Cosme, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, coordinated and moderated the summit discussions, facilitating engagement among hospital leaders, consular representatives, and community partners. Roger Milliner, Chief Growth Officer of MetroPlusHealth, discussed insurance coverage and benefits available to immigrant families from Latin America. Metropolitan Hospital providers described hospital services and resources available to the communities represented at the summit.
“Metropolitan Hospital is a safe and trusted place for Latin American and Hispanic communities,” said Julian John, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. “This summit gave the hospital and its consular partners an opportunity to listen, share information, and connect families with care. Metropolitan Hospital remains committed to building relationships that help patients feel seen, respected, and supported. Building trust is essential to ensuring that patients and families feel comfortable seeking care and asking for the support they need.”
“This summit begins a new chapter of partnership between Metropolitan Hospital and the Latin American consulates,” said Elsa Cosme, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. “The hospital and consulates share a responsibility to support the community through clear communication and outreach. By working together, we can make it easier for patients and families to find the services and resources they need. Our partnership will turn this shared commitment into action that reaches families in the communities we serve.”
“Through the Coalition of Latin American Consuls in New York (CLACNY), we demonstrate that when Latin American consulates come together, we can build trust, share clear information, and create communication channels that serve our communities,” said Marcos Bucio Mújica, Consul General of Mexico in New York. “For immigrant communities, clear and accessible communication is essential to understanding where to turn for health care and support.”
“MetroPlusHealth is proud to stand alongside Metropolitan Hospital and the Latin American consulates as families navigate changes in federal policy,” said Roger Milliner, Chief Growth Officer at MetroPlusHealth. “Immigrant New Yorkers deserve trusted information about their rights, health care, and the public benefits for which they may qualify. Understanding coverage and benefits is an important step in helping families access timely care and the services that support their health and well-being.”
The participating organizations committed to continued coordination on community education, diabetes awareness, language access, and connections to care. Metropolitan Hospital, MetroPlusHealth, and the consular partners will share reliable health information through consular and community networks and help patients and families connect with hospital services, health coverage, and other resources. This collaboration will support the communities represented by the eight participating consulates and the patients and families they serve.
As a next step, Metropolitan Hospital will host information tables at participating consulate offices to meet immigrant communities where they are. Hospital representatives will share information about Metropolitan Hospital’s pediatric services and programs for children and their families, hospital services, health coverage, and community resources. The outreach will also connect families to social services and provide health information and educational resources to help immigrant communities navigate health care and other essential services in New York City and the United States.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Isaiah McClain (mcclaini@nychhc.org), 212-423-7782.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is a full-service community hospital in East Harlem and one of eleven hospitals within NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health system in the United States. Metropolitan Hospital has 419 beds in operation and serves the community through 448,000 clinic visits and 58,000 emergency room visits annually. Since the hospital’s founding in 1875, Metropolitan Hospital has maintained the nation’s oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation through its longstanding partnership with New York Medical College. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan.
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.