Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the resignation of Health & Hospitals Corporation (HHC) President and Chief Executive Dr. Benjamin K. Chu effective February 15, 2005.  Dr. Chu has served as President of HHC since February of 2002.  Dr. Chu will leave HHC to become President for the Southern California region of Kaiser-Permanente health system and health plan.  He will be responsible for a system that cares for 3.1 million Californians with an operating budget of over $11 billion.  HHC Chairperson Charlynn Goins will begin the search for a successor.

“Ben Chu has worked tirelessly to deliver the best medical care to all New Yorkers, particularly our residents who would otherwise not have access to care,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “HHC hospitals and health centers serve more than 1.2 million New Yorkers each year; and 450,000 of them are uninsured.  Dr. Chu has led a team of talented and dedicated physicians, nurses and care providers to establish a world-class record of success.  In addition to achieving some of the highest ratings of any of the City’s hospitals over the past three years, HHC has deployed a host of highly effective efforts for chronic disease management, the early detection of cancer, and the combating of asthma, cardiovascular diseases and depression.  Dr. Chu has overseen the City’s rebuilding of four of its hospitals which are set to open this year and he has championed the use of modern technology in order to achieve quality patient outcomes for care.”

“It was an extraordinarily difficult decision for me to leave the City and the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation at this time,” said Dr. Chu.  “Under the Mayor, HHC has made stunning progress in addressing vexing health problems in our communities.  It has been enormously satisfying professionally and personally rewarding to tackle these issues with a focus on achieving markedly better quality outcomes for our patients.  I leave for this once in a lifetime career opportunity with sadness but also with confidence that the wonderful people working at HHC will continue our steady progress in not only addressing disparities in health care in our communities but ultimately defining a new and higher standard of health care for all New Yorkers.”