NYC Health + Hospitals has announced that three executives from the health care system have been named to City & State’s 2022 Manhattan ‘Power 100’ list. NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan CEO Cristina Contreras, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue CEO William Hicks, and MetroPlusHealth Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sanjiv Shah, and are recognized for their outstanding leadership, career accomplishments, and steadfast commitment to serving New Yorkers. City & State is a media organization dedicated to covering New York’s local and state politics and policy.
“I am honored to be recognized on the City & State Manhattan Power 100 list. This recognition reflects the vital services provided by our city’s public hospitals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan CEO Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC. “I am proud to be part of the NYC Health + Hospitals system that is working every day to improve care and outcomes for the patients we serve.”
“I am deeply honored to be included in City & State’s Manhattan Power 100,” said MetroPlusHealth Chief Medical Officer Sanjiv Shah, MD. “It’s a reflection, of course, of the great work of the entire MetroPlusHealth team.”
“I am truly grateful to be named to City & State’s Manhattan Power 100,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue CEO William Hicks, MS, RT, DHL (Hon.). “I consider it a privilege to lead this great hospital and be recognized on behalf of such an immensely talented team that is so committed to the health of all New Yorkers.”
Born in the Dominican Republic, Ms. Contreras started her career as a caseworker and progressed through various positions of leadership with increasing responsibility, culminating with her appointment as Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in April 2021. She has over 27 years of leadership experience in executive level management of inpatient, ambulatory, clinical, and ancillary services.
Contreras has been recognized by Schneps Media, 100 Hispanic Women National, the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and City & State New York for her extraordinary work. She also serves as the Chair of the National Dominican Day Parade and on the Board of Directors of R.A.I.N. Total Care, Inc.
Contreras holds a Bachelors in Social Work from Herbert H. Lehman College, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University and a second Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Baruch College.
William (Bill) Hicks serves as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in America. Mr. Hicks began his health career as an imaging technologist and went on to complete his undergraduate and Master’s work at Saint Joseph’s College in New York City. He is Platinum-level trained in Lean process improvement and has facilitated over 35 weeklong Rapid Improvement Events in his career.
Mr. Hicks has held positions including Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Executive Director, Chief Innovation Officer, and Director of Quality, at both public and private institutions. A great deal of his experience has been in the direct management of operations and support services.
Mr. Hicks serves on a number of in-network and interagency workgroups and committees that support public health efforts in New York City. He actively worked as a founding contributing member of the National Emerging Pathogens Training and Education Center established under a federal HHS grant, and is responsible for maintaining Bellevue’s status as a Region II Ebola and Other Special Pathogen Treatment Center.
Mr. Hicks has been recognized by Schneps Media and City & State. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from the New York College of Health Professions in 2021.
Dr. Shah was appointed Chief Medical Officer of MetroPlusHealth in August 2019. He has more than 20 years of experience as a physician leader, managed care executive, and infectious disease specialist. He joined MetroPlusHealth from the Mount Sinai Health System where he served as Medical Director. Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from the University of Nottingham School of Medicine in the United Kingdom and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. He completed his residency at Mount Sinai, served as Chief Medical Resident at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, and was a Fellow in Infectious Diseases at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Shah has published and presented extensively on numerous medical issues both nationally and abroad.
