New Leadership Announced for Global Health Institute at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
Elmhurst, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has officially announced the leadership appointments for its Global Health Institute, selecting Dr. Sheela Maru as Director and Dr. Ben McVane as Assistant Director. This institute plays a crucial role in enhancing healthcare delivery for underserved populations through international collaboration and research.
Mission and Vision of the Global Health Institute
The Global Health Institute is dedicated to transforming healthcare for communities that have been historically marginalized. It aims to establish connections between the hospital and these communities by engaging in various activities, including:
- Developing local and international partnerships
- Conducting impactful research
- Facilitating educational initiatives that promote best practices in health care
Recent initiatives led by the institute include:
- Training over 30 community-based doulas through the Helping Promote Birth Equity through Community-Based Doula Care (HoPE) program
- Launching a health and social navigation program for recent migrants
- Educating students and residents on community health issues
- Engaging with international partners from countries such as the Philippines, Nepal, Kenya, and Kazakhstan
Insights from Leadership
Dr. Laura Iavicoli, Chief Medical Officer, expressed her confidence in the new leaders, stating, “Dr. Maru and Dr. McVane are both outstanding physicians with strong backgrounds in advancing global health. Their deep commitment to patient care and dedication to researching and understanding global health and its implications have long been an inspiration to colleagues both within and beyond our institution.”
CEO Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde also congratulated the appointees, emphasizing, “Elmhurst Hospital serves one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse communities in the world, so advancing global health is key to our mission. I deeply appreciate Dr. Maru’s and Dr. McVane’s leadership and passion for improving health equity, and look forward to supporting their work to help underserved communities around the world.”
Profiles of the New Leaders
Dr. Sheela Maru
Dr. Maru is an accomplished OBGYN at Elmhurst Hospital and serves as an Associate Professor in the Departments of Health Systems Design and Global Health, as well as Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. With a focus on improving healthcare access for women and children in low-resource settings, she has advised the organization Possible for over a decade, strengthening health systems in rural Nepal. Dr. Maru holds an MD from the Yale School of Medicine and an MPH from Harvard University.
Dr. Ben McVane
This emergency medicine physician also works at Elmhurst Hospital and is an Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine in related departments. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. McVane serves as Medical Director at the Libertas Center for Human Rights and collaborates with vulnerable populations in various countries including Greece, Bangladesh, and Mexico. He has an MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst operates as a major tertiary care provider in Queens, housing 545 beds and functioning as a Level 1 Trauma Center. The hospital’s dedication to health care is demonstrated through its specialized services in surgery, cardiology, pediatric care, and more. It serves a diverse population, handling nearly 700,000 outpatient visits annually alongside over 130,000 emergency room visits, and has been recognized for its excellence in various medical fields.
For media inquiries, contact:
Atiya Butler, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
(917) 319-5167
butlerat@nychhc.org
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