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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

HEALTH CARE TRAILBLAZERS

City & State New York Recognizes Two

Leaders from NYC Health + Hospitals

and Metroplushealth

OUR BUREAU frastructure at every level. During the
public health emergency, Dr. Shah
NEW YORK, NY
helped lead the rapid redeployment of
ity & State New York has clinical staff, expanded testing capaci-
named two senior leaders from ty, and supported large-scale vaccina-
CNew York City’s public health tion outreach efforts across the city.
system to its prestigious 2026 “Trail- In the years since, Dr. Shah has
blazers in Health Care” list, recogniz- focused on translating lessons from
ing their impact on clinical excellence, the pandemic into lasting system im-
equity, and system-wide innovation. provements. A key priority has been
NYC Health + Hospitals announced advancing mental health parity—not
that Dr. Maryam Akbari, Director just as a policy goal, but as an oper-
of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at ational reality. Under his leadership,
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, MetroPlusHealth brought behavioral
and Dr. Sanjiv S. Shah, Chief Medi- health services in-house, allowing for
cal Officer of MetroPlusHealth, were diverse communities in the nation.” ment to education, interdisciplinary better integration, oversight, and ac-
among the distinguished honorees. Dr. Akbari leads oral and max- collaboration, and public engagement. cess for members.
illofacial services at NYC Health + Her work reflects NYC Health + Dr. Shah has also expanded access
City & State New York’s annual Hospitals/Elmhurst, one of the city’s Hospitals’ broader mission to deliver to preventive and supportive services
high-quality care without exception, that address social drivers of health.
busiest safety-net hospitals and a crit-
Trailblazers in Health Care list ical provider for Queens’ immigrant regardless of a patient’s background These initiatives include making dieti-
highlights influential figures and working-class communities. A or ability to pay. tian services available at no cost to city
dual-trained dentist and physician, she Dr. Sanjiv S. Shah, Chief Medi- workers and helping launch medically
shaping health policy, delivery, has played a central role in expanding cal Officer of MetroPlusHealth, was tailored meal programs in partner-
and outcomes across the state. reconstructive and complex surgical also recognized for his leadership ship with God’s Love We Deliver and
services for patients who often face
in strengthening care delivery and
NYC Health + Hospitals. By linking
The list features leaders from barriers to specialized care. advancing health equity across New nutrition support to chronic disease
government, health systems, Since assuming her leadership York City’s public health insurance management, these efforts aim to im-
role, Dr. Akbari has reorganized her plan. MetroPlusHealth, which part- prove health outcomes while reducing
managed care organizations, department and recruited addition- ners closely with NYC Health + Hos- avoidable hospitalizations.
The recognition of Dr. Akbari
and advocacy groups whose al attending physicians to strengthen pitals, serves hundreds of thousands of and Dr. Shah underscores the breadth
clinical capacity and broaden access
New Yorkers, including many low-in-
work is advancing patient-cen- to advanced procedures. Under her come, immigrant, and essential work- and depth of leadership within New
tered and equitable care. City guidance, Elmhurst has become a er households. York City’s public health system. Their
“Being named to City & State’s
trusted destination for complex jaw,
work reflects a shared commitment to
& State New York is a leading facial trauma, and temporomandib- Trailblazers in Health Care list is an innovation, equity, and patient-cen-
media organization dedicated to ular joint (TMJ) surgeries within the honor and a reflection of the col- tered care—values that remain crit-
lective work of dedicated clinicians, ical as the city continues to confront
public hospital system.
non-partisan, in-depth coverage Dr. Akbari is also widely rec- public health professionals, and man- health disparities and evolving public
of New York’s local and state pol- ognized for her advocacy on behalf aged care teams who show up for health challenges.
of transgender and gender-diverse
our communities every day,” said Dr.
NYC Health + Hospitals is the
itics and public policy. patients. She has worked to improve Shah. “This recognition reinforces our nation’s largest municipal health care
insurance coverage pathways and to shared commitment to advancing eq- system, serving more than one mil-
“I’m proud to stand alongside col- position Elmhurst as a welcoming and uitable, high-quality care and building lion New Yorkers each year across
leagues who are driving meaningful high-quality destination for facial femi- a health system that truly meets peo- over 70 patient care locations in all
change and ensuring that patient-cen- nization and gender-affirming surgical ple where they are.” five boroughs. Supported by 11 es-
tered, equitable care remains at the care. Her efforts have helped ensure An infectious disease physician sential hospitals, a robust outpatient
heart of everything we do,” said Dr. that inclusive, world-class surgical ser- by training, Dr. Shah brings decades network, long-term and post-acute
Akbari. “This recognition underscores vices are available within New York of clinical experience and managed care facilities, home care services, and
the importance of innovation, collab- City’s public health system, rather than care leadership to his role. He joined MetroPlusHealth, the system’s more
oration, and compassion in health being limited to private institutions. MetroPlusHealth just before the onset than 46,000 employees are dedicated
care—especially in public hospital A former medical podcast co-host, of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period to empowering every New Yorker to
systems that serve some of the most Dr. Akbari brings a strong commit- that tested New York City’s health in- live the healthiest life possible.

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