Physician Affiliate Group of New York Names Dr. Richard Becker as New Chief Executive Officer
Aug 12, 2021
Physician Affiliate Group of New York Names Dr. Richard Becker as New Chief Executive Officer
New York, NY (Thursday, August 12, 2021) - The Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY) today announced Dr. Richard Becker, a distinguished physician and hospital administrator, as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr. Becker will be only the second full-time CEO in PAGNY’s history and will begin this new role on September 2, 2021. His predecessor, Dr. Luis R. Marcos, a former President of New York City Health + Hospitals, is stepping down after nearly a decade of service. After a thorough, nationwide search, Dr. Becker was chosen by a special committee of the PAGNY Board of Directors.
“PAGNY is fortunate to have found a leader like Dr. Becker to take us into our second decade,” said Dr. Bijan Safai, President of the PAGNY Board of Directors and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. “His management experience is unparalleled and his knowledge of hospital administration, government partnerships, and clinical research will help us grow, navigate the continuously evolving challenges in healthcare delivery and pursue new opportunities.”
“We are very excited to have Dr. Becker join and lead PAGNY,” said Dr. Edward Chew, Vice President of the PAGNY Board of Directors, Chair of the PAGNY Board of Director’s CEO Search Committee, and Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Health + Hospitals/Harlem. “He has the experience and expertise to continue to improve upon PAGNY’s long-standing partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals while creating growth and opportunities for PAGNY and employees alike.”
”I am honored to be selected to lead PAGNY as this outstanding organization enters its next chapter of providing excellent care to New Yorkers. I look forward to further strengthening PAGNY’s partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals while also creating new growth and development opportunities for one of New York’s largest medical groups,” said Dr. Becker.
Dr. Becker comes to PAGNY after serving as New York State’s Deputy Secretary for Health and then Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management where he has provided leadership both with the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and with creating and implementing policies to improve access to high quality healthcare for all New Yorkers.
Prior to his service with the New York State government, Dr. Becker was a senior managing director at ToneyKorf Partners, a strategic management firm where he focused on complex challenges at healthcare institutions. He previously served for seven years as the President and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center, which includes a 464-bed teaching hospital, family health centers, and ambulatory care sites, where he successfully developed and implemented a turnaround strategy. He was also the CEO and Medical Director of the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. There, he was an associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine and was actively engaged in patient care and clinical research. Dr. Becker holds a BA from the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences, an MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and an MBA from The George Washington University School of Business.
“PAGNY is a very special organization with a mission of service to the people of New York,” said Dr. Luis R. Marcos, CEO of PAGNY since 2013, and former president of NYC Health and Hospitals (1995-2002). “I am sure that with Dr. Becker as CEO, PAGNY will continue to provide the highest quality of care in our public hospitals through the recruitment and retention of outstanding physicians and allied health professionals, and will successfully grow and expand into new healthcare horizons.”
“Our physician affiliation partnership with PAGNY helps the public health care system attract and recruit skilled physicians, and enhances our ability to provide quality, compassionate care to more than one million New Yorkers every year,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz. “We congratulate Dr. Becker on his appointment and look forward to working with him to continue building strong bonds with our physicians, and celebrate their excellence and commitment to our patients.”
The Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY), a tax-exempt organization affiliated with NYC Health + Hospitals, is one of the largest physician groups in New York State and directly employs more than 4,000 physicians and allied health professionals who serve seven of New York City’s public hospitals, numerous public health clinics, and the city’s Correctional Health Service.