After leading Northwell Health for close to a quarter of a century, Michael Dowling is stepping down as president and CEO, effective Oct. 1.
Dowling took the helm as the first CEO of New York's largest nonprofit health system 23 years ago. He will transition to the role of CEO emeritus.
In that role, he'll serve in an advisory capacity, supporting the advancement of public health initiatives and focusing on teaching and writing.
Over Dowling's tenure, Northwell has evolved from a network of Long Island-based hospitals into one of the nation's largest health systems. Northwell became New York state's first integrated health system in 1992 and now includes 28 hospitals across New York and Connecticut, employing 104,000 people, with more than 14,000 affiliated physicians, 1,000 care locations, and a network of home care, rehabilitation and end-of-life services.
Northwell credited Dowling with much of the system's expansion, with his championing of research investments leading to the growth of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and his dedication to medical education helping to improve the Zucker School of Medicine, the Hofstra-Northwell School of Nursing, and Northwell's Center for Learning and Innovation.
Dowling has also been outspoken on the issue of gun violence, a leading cause of death among children in the United States, and has mobilized more than 60 healthcare CEOs nationwide to support gun violence prevention, the system said.
"It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead Northwell through a period of unprecedented growth and clinical transformation that has enabled our team members to make a meaningful difference and improve the lives of the tens of millions of patients and families who we've cared for over the last 25 years," said Dowling.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT
Northwell's board of trustees conducted an extensive nationwide search for Dowling's successor and unanimously chose Dr. John D'Angelo, who currently serves as executive vice president of the health system's central region.
D'Angelo began his more than 25-year tenure at Northwell as an emergency medicine physician at Glen Cove Hospital before advancing into health system-wide clinical and administrative leadership roles.
As president of Northwell's central region, D'Angelo leads a healthcare network serving 2.8 million residents in western Nassau County and Queens, a network that includes six hospitals, more than 270 ambulatory practice locations and a team of 24,000 employees. He orchestrated Northwell's operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic and later became chief of integrated operations, charged with streamlining system operations in the post-pandemic era.
Before this role, D'Angelo was the senior vice president of Northwell's Emergency Medicine service line, where he managed 18 emergency departments and a network of more than 60 urgent care centers, serving 1.5 million patients annually.
"I am humbled and honored to be selected to succeed Michael Dowling as Northwell President and CEO," said D'Angelo. "I am committed to build on his unparalleled legacy and vision that grew Northwell from a Long Island-based health system into a regional and national healthcare leader."
THE LARGER TREND
The leadership change comes weeks after Northwell and Nuvance Health received final regulatory approval for their $18 billion proposed merger, which has been in the works since last year.
The merger will create a 28-hospital system, as Northwell is also becoming the parent organization for three Nuvance hospitals in New York. As part of the affiliation, Northwell will invest at least $1 billion across the Nuvance hospitals in Connecticut and New York over the next five years, and the agreement also requires annual reports detailing Northwell's progress made toward completion of those investments.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.