Cristina Contreras Named CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln; Julian John Appointed CEO, Metropolitan

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the appointment of Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC as the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.

In addition, Julian John, MPA as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. In these roles, the CEOs will ensure all New Yorkers have access to high-quality health care, grow services at the hospitals, and develop strategies to support staff recruitment and retention. In addition to their professional accomplishments, Contreras and John bring with them a deep personal connection to the public health system and communities they will serve. Contreras has worked at the health system since 1995, and is a Dominican Republic native and a leader in the Dominican community. John has served in the health system for a total of 15 years across his career, including the past four years at Metropolitan Hospital. He was born in Trinidad and is rooted in both Trinidadian and Venezuelan communities. Both Contreras and John will begin their roles on September 16.

“I am proud to promote two long time NYC Health + Hospitals leadership team members at our hospitals,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Cristina and Julian have spent years in our system, and they are dedicated to providing the high-quality care that our patients deserve. They are also connected to the community, knowing that what happens beyond the four walls of the hospital can affect staff and patients. Congratulations to them both.”

“As an executive leader within the NYC Health System, I have always led with passion for transformative healthcare and championed delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.” said Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FACB. “I am excited for the opportunity to lead the dynamic team of people at NYC Health + Hospital/Lincoln who care deeply about advancing health for the patients and communities we serve. I know that together, we will continue to innovate in order to provide the safe, high-quality, and equitable care that our patients deserve and expect.”

“I am truly honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue working with the incredible team at NYC health + Hospitals/Metropolitan as their Chief Executive Officer,” said Julian John, MPA. “As CFO for the last three and a half years, I have led key initiatives to improve our financial performance and I look forward to advancing our mission of providing, high-quality patient care in strong collaboration with our community partners, staff and patients.”

Born in the Dominican Republic, Cristina Contreras has over twenty-nine years of progressive leadership experience in executive level management of inpatient, ambulatory, clinical and ancillary services hospital operations. She started her career as a caseworker and successfully progressed through various positions of leadership with increasing responsibility, culminating with her appointment, in 2021, as Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in East Harlem. In this role, Contreras expanded access to care for underserved communities, recruited and cultivated outstanding talent, advanced programs of excellence and improved financial and operational performance. 

In recognition of her leadership and service to the community, Contreras has been the recipient of a variety of honors and awards, including being consistently listed on the City and State Power Players List, the Government Service Leadership Award by 100 Hispanic Women National, and a Hero of Hope and Champion of Inclusion by the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as the Chair of the National Dominican Day Parade since April 2021, on the Board of the NY Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, 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. In 2023, Contreras received the New York College of Podiatric Medicine’s honorary degree of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, at their annual commencement.

Julian John is a senior healthcare executive with over thirty years of hospital finance and public accounting experience, including experience in revenue cycle management and supply chain management.

John served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan since 2021. As CFO, he provided strategic leadership for the hospital’s business and finance functions, as well as for the management of its financial and capital resources. He oversaw Budget and Financial Planning, Business Applications Development and Support, Procurement Services, and Audit Services. Within those units lie critical business functions including payroll, financial reporting, accounts receivable and payable, and financial systems.

John’s career spans more than 30 years of varied experience in healthcare financial management, business leadership, and corporate strategy. He has broad experience in working collaboratively with various leaders and a proven track record as a successful negotiator. Julian has held several leadership positions within the NYC Health + Hospitals system. Prior to his current role, John served as Chief Financial Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln from 2019 to 2021, Corporate Controller for the NYC Health + Hospital system from 2015 to 2016, and Chief Financial Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County from 2005 to 2015. He also served as Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer at Interfaith Medical Center from 2016 to 2019.             

Julian began his career in the private sector as a staff accountant at Loeb & Troper and transitioned to healthcare finance, where he went on to hold several positions of increasing responsibility at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service, New York University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the City University of New York (Brooklyn College).

In his spare time, Julian gives back to his community through volunteer service. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he participates in fundraising activities to aid the homeless, disabled, and sick.

“There is no one in healthcare who is more rooted in the community than Cristina Contreras, whose devotion to patient care is second to none,” said Congressman Ritchie Torres. “Cristina is no stranger to serving the Bronx. She has earned the respect and trust of every elected official and the people we represent and she is destined to excel as the next CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.”

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“I am thrilled to learn of Cristina Contreras’ appointment as Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln,” said New York State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo. “The Bronx is a high needs community, and I have no doubt that Ms. Contreras’ successful experience leading in public health institutions will only serve to improve outcomes and possibilities for residents throughout our community. I am proud to see a distinguished woman of color chosen to lead this pillar institution in the South Bronx, and look forward to improved access to culturally rooted care and progress that are to come under her leadership.”

“Cristina Contreras is a compassionate and dedicated leader who cares deeply about increasing access to care for underserved communities in our city,” said Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx Borough President. “I am delighted to congratulate her on her new role as CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln and to see her implement her vision to improve our borough’s health infrastructure. We claim Cristina as one of our own and we are excited for her to return to the Bronx! I look forward to working with her and her team and I am certain that she will propel NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln to further success and build on their rich history of providing compassionate patient-centered care.” 

“I congratulate Cristina on her appointment as Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln,” said Diana Ayala, Deputy Speaker, NY City Council. “NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan has truly benefited from Cristina’s deep commitment to public service, experience, work ethic, and operational excellence. Manhattan’s loss is the Bronx’s gain because I know that her outstanding leadership skills will assure that Lincoln Hospital has a bright future. I also congratulate Julian John and look forward to working with him as the new CEO at Metropolitan.  His deep expertise in financial management to drive business transformation will be crucial to expanding health care access for all New Yorkers.”

“I extend my congratulations to Cristina Contreras on her appointment as the new CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. We are fortunate to have someone with Cristina’s extensive healthcare knowledge, operational expertise and ability, leading a major trauma center in our Borough,” said New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. “I know that Cristina is committed to improving access to high quality medical care and I look forward to partnering with her to make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve, ensuring Lincoln Hospital’s growth and success.”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, located in the South Bronx, is a 362-bed, Acute Care Level 1 Trauma Center and sees more than 168,000 emergency room visits and more than 600,000 outpatient visits annually. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Breast Imaging; Designated Stroke Center, Diabetes Center and HIV/AIDS Center. Lincoln Hospital was the first Baby-Friendly designated hospital in the Bronx, providing clinical services and consultations for over 1,500 deliveries per year. The hospital emphasizes primary care and specialty medicine, using the latest advances in medical science. Lincoln is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation.

For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/lincoln 

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan and neighboring communities. The hospital provides culturally-sensitive care in a welcoming and hospitable setting, emphasizing primary care medicine and utilizing the latest advances in medical science. It is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country.

For more information, please visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan 

NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.

For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org 

Photo credit: NYC Health + Hospitals.