Dr. Gareen Hamalian Reimagining Care: Mental Health Is Health

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) Medical Director Gareen Hamalian, M.D., MPH, shares her perspective on providing timely, high-quality care to patients who need it most.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month - but mental health is foundational to well-being every month of the year. It is inseparable physical health, shaping how we think, function, connect, and care for ourselves and others.

Despite this, access to behavioral health services remains limited, particularly in historically underserved communities. When care is delayed or inaccessible, suffering deepens, conditions worsen, and long-standing health disparities continue to grow.

“As Medical Director of Virtual ExpressCare-Behavioral Health at NYC Health + Hospitals, I am proud to be part of a system that is actively working to change that reality. Through on-demand virtual urgent care, we are expanding access in meaningful ways, by reducing wait times, eliminating transportation barriers, and offering patients timely, private support when they need it most.”

This model does more than improve convenience. Immediate access to care can stabilize patients earlier, often preventing unnecessary emergency department visits and reducing strain on acute care settings. Just as importantly, it helps normalize mental health care. By lowering both logistical and psychological barriers, we are encouraging individuals to seek support sooner, particularly in communities where stigma has historically delayed care.

What makes this work even more impactful is the environment in which it is delivered. There is a unique sense of purpose that comes from working in a system where clinical excellence and health equity are not competing priorities, but shared commitments.

Within NYC Health + Hospitals, that mission is brought to life at scale. As the largest municipal public health care system in the United States, it provides a platform to innovate, expand access, and reach patients who might otherwise go without care. For clinicians, this means the opportunity to practice meaningful medicine every day, addressing not only individual patient needs, but broader public health challenges.

Behavioral health clinicians have the privilege of meeting patients at some of their most vulnerable moments. In those encounters, even a single compassionate interaction can change the trajectory of a life. That responsibility, combined with the ability to make a system-wide impact, is what makes this work deeply meaningful.

Since joining NYC Health + Hospitals in October 2025, I have seen firsthand a culture grounded in equity, innovation, and patient-centered care. It is a place where clinicians are empowered to think differently, to build new models of care, and to be part of solutions that extend far beyond traditional clinical settings.

There is still much work ahead to ensure that every New Yorker has access to the mental health care they deserve. Being part of PAGNY and NYC Health + Hospitals means being part of that progress and helping shape a more equitable, accessible, and compassionate future for mental health care.