Ramanathan "Ram" Raju, MD, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals plans to step down from his post at the end of the month, according to the New York Daily News.
Stanley Brezenoff, a longtime city official, will take over the position until a permanent replacement is appointed, according to the article. Mr. Brezenoff served as president of NYC Health + Hospitals from 1981 to 1984.
Dr. Raju has led the system since 2014 when New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed him to the position. Before joining NYC Health + Hospitals, Dr. Raju was CEO of Cook County Health & Hospitals System in Chicago.
Dr. Raju is stepping down as the cash-strapped hospital system faces a total budget gap of $6 billion through 2020. Dr. Raju spearheaded a plan to save the system from financial ruin that involves cutting the system's workforce by thousands and enrolling more individuals in the system's health insurance plan. Officials said the plan will continue under the new leadership, according to the article.
"The administration is deeply grateful for Dr. Raju's service in developing and launching a transformation of Health + Hospitals that will ensure our treasured public healthcare system continues to provide the best in care to all New Yorkers, including our most vulnerable patients. Our healthcare system will continue to be led by an experienced healthcare leader well-equipped to continue the work of modernizing public healthcare, making it more patient-friendly and efficient for all New Yorkers," said Aja Worthy-Davis, a spokesperson for the office of Mayor de Blasio, in a statement.