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Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced the appointment of Richard T. Roberts,
who is currently President of Goldman Sachs and Co. Urban Investment Group,
as Chairman of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC).
"I am pleased to have Richard serve as Chair of the Health and Hospitals Corporation," said Mayor Giuliani. "His commitment to public service and his expertise in public administration will be huge assets to our public hospital system. I have full confidence that Richard will use his management skills to help promote the highest quality of health care service to the people of New York City."
Richard Roberts said, "I would like to thank Mayor Giuliani for providing me with the opportunity to contribute to this Administration's legacy of positive change in our public hospital system. I look forward to working with Dr. Marcos and the HHC Board to shape corporate policy, improve hospital facilities, and together ensure HHC's continued success in delivering quality patient care."
HHC President Luis Marcos, M.D. said, "HHC is proud to welcome Richard's leadership to our Board. His wealth of experience and dedication in both the private and public sectors will help us in our efforts to implement reform and adjust to the needs of the changing managed care landscape."
Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Roberts served as the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing, Preservation and Development, the nation's largest combined municipal affordable housing and community development agency. As Commissioner, Roberts directed a staff of nearly 3,000 and administered an $800 million budget. During Roberts' tenure, the agency structured financing of over $1 billion and created 40,000 units of housing. In addition, Roberts launched several creative programs such as the New Housing Program - the first middle income-housing program in New York City in decades. During his tenure, the agency also received national recognition for its programming, including the prestigious Harvard University Kennedy School Innovation in American Government Award.
Among Roberts' other roles, from 1996 to 1997 he served as Vice President of Government and Community Relations at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, directing government relations and community outreach efforts. In addition, Roberts is active in a wide range of civic, community and international affairs organizations, including the New York Academy of Medicine, an institution devoted to improving the health of urban populations and the development of health care professionals.
Roberts will be replacing Dr. Rosa Gil, who left the chair post after accepting a position at the City University of New York as University Dean for Health Services. Roberts will continue his work at Goldman's Urban Investment Group, a private equity effort designed to expand economic opportunity throughout the country, particularly in the cities where Goldman operates.