NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Welcomes Dr. Leslie A. Hayes as Chief of the Department of Pediatrics
Distinguished pediatric physician and public health leader joins Woodhull Hospital to strengthen and expand high-quality, equitable care for children and families across North Brooklyn
Mar 27, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull today announced the appointment of Leslie A. Hayes, MD as its new Chief of the Department of Pediatrics, marking an exciting new chapter in the hospital’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, equitable care to children and families across North Brooklyn.
“At NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull we are happy to welcome Dr. Hayes as the new Chief of Pediatrics. Dr. Hayes is an excellent choice to lead our pediatrics and adolescent medicine division. Dr. Hayes has a long history of community service and involvement in North Brooklyn. As a North Brooklyn resident, physician and community volunteer Dr. Hayes has keen insight and understanding of the needs of our pediatric and adolescent populations. She will work collaboratively with our current pediatric physician leaders and staff to continue their great work, as well as move the division forward and expand its services to serve more children and adolescents in our community,” said Sandra Sneed, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
“Dr. Hayes is an inspiring person and a highly accomplished leader in public health and clinical pediatrics,” said Ross MacDonald, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “I am so pleased that she will join Woodhull Hospital’s truly exceptional team of Clinical Service Chiefs, who are leading our services from ‘Good to Great.’”
“I am deeply honored to serve as the Chief of the Department of Pediatrics at Woodhull Hospital during this time of renewed energy and transformation,” said Leslie A. Hayes, MD, FAAP, Chief of Pediatrics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “I am inspired by the vision of our leadership and proud to join a dynamic team committed to meaningful change. Throughout my career, I have been guided by a steadfast belief that children and families are the heart of everything and deserve equitable, patient-centered care in a supportive, compassionate environment. I look forward to continuing this life work-advancing the health and well-being of every child we serve and helping to build a stronger, healthier future for our community.”
Dr. Hayes is a nationally respected physician-leader with extensive experience in public health, clinical pediatrics, and adolescent medicine, particularly in underserved communities throughout New York City. Most recently, she served as Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Family and Child Health at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she led the department’s largest division and advanced citywide initiatives to improve health outcomes for children and families.
Prior to her public health leadership role, Dr. Hayes was Chief of Adolescent Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Inaugural Faculty Scholar in Health Equity at Cornell University’s Center of Excellence. She is board certified in Pediatrics with a subspecialty in Adolescent Medicine.
Dr. Hayes earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her pediatric residency at Children’s National Medical Center/George Washington University and her adolescent medicine fellowship at Rutgers University. Her career includes leadership and academic appointments at St. George’s University School of Medicine, Long Island University, and New York University.
A passionate advocate for health equity, health literacy, and patient empowerment, Dr. Hayes’ research and scholarship focus on reducing chronic disease risk factors in minority populations, improving adolescent mental health access, addressing childhood and adolescent obesity, advancing reproductive health access, and integrating cultural competence into medical education. She is also a contributing author to Basics in Adolescent Medicine: A Practical Manual of Signs, Symptoms and Solutions, a globally used clinical resource.
Woodhull Hospital’s Pediatric Services provide comprehensive, compassionate care for infants, children, and adolescents, including preventive care, specialty pediatric services, and 24/7 Pediatric Emergency Services. The hospital is deeply committed to ensuring children receive timely, culturally responsive, and family-centered care close to home.
Dr. Hayes, who grew up in Harlem, credits her early mentorship by a pioneering pediatrician for inspiring her lifelong dedication to healthcare advocacy. She is excited to bring her leadership, clinical expertise, and passion for community-centered care to NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Hospital.
To schedule a pediatric clinic appointment for your child, please call today at 1-844-NYC-4NYC (692-4692) or visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/woodhull to learn more about our services.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Herreraj4@nychhc.org, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. It is a premiere health care organization for key specialties, including surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, ambulatory care/primary care, emergency medicine, and behavioral health services. Last year, the hospital received close to 480,000 ambulatory care visits and close to 100,000 emergency room visits. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/woodhull, and stay connected on Facebook.
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.