Mineola, NY- Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced today two appointments to the Board of Directors of the Nassau Healthcare Corporation (NHCC) - his first opportunity to fill vacant Board seats and have a direct impact on the State-created public benefit corporation. The County Executive also said that he would work with the Governor, who has four additional appointments, to insure that other elected officials make the necessary nominations to the Board.
"Given the importance of these institutions to the County's residents and the impact of NHCC's financial condition on the County's finances, I will take every action within the limits of my authority to work towards stabilizing the Healthcare Corporation and to help it move forward with respect to both its historic mission and its relationship with the County," the County Executive said. "Despite the County's current lack of formal control over the fate of NHCC, I now have the opportunity to fill some vacant Board seats. I will work with the Governor and other State leaders and additional announcements will be made over the coming days and weeks. I intend to insert the County into the operation of the Healthcare Corporation, including formal approval of the selection of a new CEO, as required by the statute."
Named by the County Executive as new Directors are Eric Krasnoff, Chairman and CEO of Pall Corporation, a leading manufacturer of filtration, separation and purification products used in the Life Sciences and Industrial Markets; and Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, Dean of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology (NYCOM) and Vice President for Health Sciences and Medical Affairs at the NYIT.
Mr. Krasnoff joined Pall Corporation in 1975 and has been a key figure in its development into one of the largest industrial companies in the United States. He was elected Chairman and CEO in 1994. A graduate of Columbia University, Mr. Krasnoff is an active community leader. He is Chairman of the National Blood Foundation, a Trustee of Long Island University, serving on its Planning and Executive Committees, and also is on the President's Advisory Board of the National Center for Disability Services. In addition, Mr. Krasnoff serves as Vice Chairman of the American Business Conference.
Dr. Ross-Lee joined the NYIT in February 2001 from Ohio University, where she served as the Dean of the Osteopathic College from 1993 to 2001, making her the first African-American female to serve as dean of a United States medical school. She has an extensive background in health policy issues, and serves as an advisor on primary care, medical education, minority health, women's health and rural health care issues on the federal and state levels. A graduate of Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry and a Master's degree in teaching special populations, she holds a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Michigan State University where she also served as Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Health Policy prior to joining Ohio University. Dr. Ross-Lee currently serves as President of the Board of the Association of Academic Health Centers and is a member of the Board for the National Fund for Medical Education.
"We are fortunate to have such accomplished individuals with such diverse professional backgrounds and experiences serving on the Board of this important institution at such a pivotal time," Mr. Suozzi said. "With the prospect of new management and a rejuvenated Board, I am more optimistic about the future of the various institutions under the Nassau Healthcare Corporation. I look forward to our State leaders filling the additional four vacancies on the Board."
In announcing his two appointments, Mr. Suozzi said that once all the current Board vacancies are filled, he would propose the Board attend a half-day retreat along with select County senior staff and the consultants retained by the County. The retreat would accomplish a number of goals, including orientating members on the Board to governance and the special provisions applicable to NHCC as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation; implementing the consultant's recommendations; and working toward placing NHCC on sound financial footing as it continues to provide much-needed services to Nassau County's poorest residents.
"As I have indicated key members of my Administration and I will be more directly involved in working with NHCC staff and Board members, as well as with the County's consultants in an effort to ensure that these institutions will go forward on a sound financial and programmatic footing."
