News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:February 7, 2023

James N. Saunders Esq. Appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Health Affairs

Veteran attorney with over two decades of experience in healthcare compliance and administration to join DOC’s Health Affairs Division

East Elmhurst, NY – Today DOC announced the appointment of a new Deputy Commissioner of Health Affairs, James N. Saunders, Esq. DC Saunders has over twenty-five years of experience working with municipal agencies in healthcare operations and healthcare compliance. He will be responsible for overseeing the coordination of health services for people in custody and improve current operations. In addition, he will work closely with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Health and Hospitals Corporation (H+H) to facilitate the delivery of relevant services.

DC Saunders previously worked in the H+H for 28 years including at Bellevue Hospital Center, Coney Island Hospital, and the H+H Central Office in various executive level positions. In his last position at H+H he served as the First Deputy Corporate Compliance Officer in the Office of Corporate Compliance (OHCC). In this role, he oversaw the daily operation of the OHCC and supported the Chief Compliance Officer’s efforts to identify and mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse across all of H+H’s clinical operations.

Prior to joining DOC, DC Saunders worked at the NYC Fire Department (FDNY) as the Deputy General Counsel/Chief Health Care Compliance and Agency Privacy Officer in the Bureau of Legal Affairs. There he managed FDNY’s mandatory provider compliance and HIPPA privacy programs. In this role, he oversaw the agency’s records management functions and ensured FDNY’s Health Care operations complied with all applicable statutes, laws, codes, rules, and regulations, as well as FDNY’s Compliance Plan, FDNY’s Operating Procedures, departmental policies and procedures, and ethical standards of business.

He received his Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University’s School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

“I am eager to have James join the DOC team,” said DOC Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “He has a wealth of experience in public service, specifically concentrated in the area of healthcare compliance and I am confident that his expertise will be an asset to this agency.”

“I want to thank Commissioner Molina for this opportunity,” said DC Saunders. “I am excited to start this new phase of my career in city government and will utilize my knowledge and expertise to support the Commissioner’s goals for the agency."

“DOC is at an inflection point and James Saunders is the man for the season”, said Dr. Ram Raju, former President of NYC H+H. “He has worked on the front lines of public health, and he is well prepared to take on this critical new role and the challenges that come with it. He shares the belief that health equity and the elimination of health care disparities is critical to ensure healthier outcomes for our most vulnerable communities, especially for persons in custody.”

“James Saunders will hit the ground running as Deputy Commissioner for Health Affairs for the New York City Department of Correction,” said Daniel Nigro, former Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. “I was fortunate to have him as part of the Fire family when we needed to strengthen our health care compliance operations. His integrity and ability to lead collaboratively was unparalleled.”

The Department of Correction is fortunate to have James Saunders join its ranks”, said Alan Aviles, former President of NYC H+H. “He brings with him a wealth of knowledge gleaned from his many years of operational and legal experiences with H+H in various executive roles. This knowledge of the public health system operations, combined with his integrity and professionalism, will align with DOC’s vision for the future of the agency.”

***

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment while providing individuals in our care with a path to successfully re-enter their communities.