New NUMC board emerging under Stuart Rabinowitz

Daily Point

New members appointed by Hochul, legislature, county leaders to join restructured governing body

The new Nassau University Medical Center board is beginning to take shape — and is readying to make its first official moves.

After Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her four direct appointments over the weekend, The Point has learned that the state Assembly chose former Assemb. Rory Lancman, a current member of the Great Neck Library board of trustees and vice chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, as its board representative. The State Senate picked clinical social worker Lisa Newland, who chairs the Department of Social Work at Molloy University and who previously chaired Molloy’s institutional improvement committee for its Middle States Commission on Higher Education evaluation.

Both picks are pending Hochul’s approval.

Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, meanwhile, chose employment attorney Jason Abelove, who served on the NUMC board in its previous incarnation.

The picks emerge just days after Hochul announced her own four appointments to the newly restructured NUMC board.

Former Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz, who will serve as board chairman, plans to meet with NIFA staff on Tuesday to get his first full briefing on the status of the hospital. Rabinowitz also has stepped down from his spot on the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board — which will choose future casino license holders — to take on the chairmanship.

Hochul also appointed JP Morgan Chase Community Manager Amy Flores, civic leader and real estate investment firm president Lisa Warren, and health care executive Dean Mihaltses, a licensed pharmacist who served as interim chief executive at New York City Health & Hospitals in Queens.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Nassau County Legislature presiding officer Howard Kopel are responsible for the remaining four picks. Neither Chris Boyle, Blakeman’s spokesman, nor Mary Studdert, spokeswoman for the legislature’s Republican majority, returned The Point’s requests for comment Monday.

On Saturday, Blakeman used his social media platform to comment about Rabinowitz’s appointment — but did not give any indication about his plans for his own board seats.

"I would offer congratulations to my friend Stu Rabinowitz if I thought that was appropriate, but since the state’s illegal takeover of Nassau University Medical Center, there have been mass resignations, low morale and a dangerous atmosphere which will only hurt those who need healthcare services the most," Blakeman said. "The crisis at NUMC is directly attributable to Governor Hochul’s defunding of the hospital for the past three years."

But Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper said the board’s restructuring "is the best possible news for everyone who relies on NUMC," adding that the new board "is going to be tasked with returning the focus to patient care and fiscal stability."

The newly constituted board plans to hold its first meeting early next week. The 11-member board can officially conduct business with a quorum that constitutes a majority. It’s expected that the board will commence the search for a permanent CEO to replace departing Chief Executive Megan Ryan. Although Ryan has resigned effective July 20, it’s likely the board will choose an interim CEO, possibly at its first meeting, to replace her sooner, multiple sources told The Point. A national search will be conducted to choose a permanent CEO. The state Health Department had demanded such a search from the old board as one of its requirements for state funding — but one was never completed.

On Monday, Ryan was still working at the hospital, a NUMC spokesman said.

"Despite persistent public attacks, she will continue to serve to ensure hospital operations are seamless at this time, as stated in her letter of resignation and communications with employees," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, NIFA, which is scheduled to meet Thursday, is expected to vote to put the hospital into its own separate financial control period — a requirement of the changes in state law that were approved last month.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

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— Michael Dobie michael.dobie@newsday.com

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