August 29, 2013

Contact: Bellevue Public Affairs, 212-562-4516

New York, NY – New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) President Alan D. Aviles today announced the appointment of Steven R. Alexander as Executive Director of Bellevue Hospital Center, one of the oldest public hospitals in the country. A pharmacist by training, Alexander has served as Bellevue’s Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer since 2005 and has nearly 27 years of service in a variety of leadership positions at HHC. 

“Steve has an impressive track record of proven leadership and has demonstrated a deep commitment to quality and patient-centered care,” said HHC President Alan D. Aviles.  “As Bellevue’s Deputy Executive Director since 2005, he has motivated staff at all levels and has helped align hospital operations with the strategic values and goals that are central to our mission.  I am confident that Steve will continue Bellevue’s tradition of excellence.”

Alexander started his career at HHC as a pharmacist at Queens Hospital Center, later serving as its Assistant Director of Pharmacy and Director of Emergency Services.  He was a Director of Pharmacy at Bellevue and Elmhurst hospitals, Associate Executive Director at Elmhurst Hospital, and Associate Executive Director of Radiology at Bellevue Hospital before being named Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in 2005.

Alexander graduated Cum Laude from St. John’s University with a B.S. in Pharmacy and Magna Cum Laude from the New York Institute of Technology with an M.B.A. As Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for eight years, he has led general hospital operations, with direct responsibility for the Cardiothoracic, Behavioral Health, Pharmacy and Diagnostic services as well as infrastructure, support services, facility and material management. He has been the hospital incident commander during emergency situations including Hurricane Sandy.

Alexander replaces Lynda D. Curtis, Bellevue’s Executive Director since 2005, who will continue in her role as Senior Vice President of the South Manhattan Healthcare Network, which includes Bellevue, Metropolitan, and Coler-Goldwater hospitals and Gouverneur Health Center, focusing on network-wide strategic initiatives in patient safety, quality and safety performance, improved access and modernization.

“Lynda is a veteran leader with the skills and insight that come from nearly four decades of service to HHC,” Aviles said. “As we prepare our system for the fast-changing healthcare reform environment, Lynda will be leading some of our corporate-wide operational restructuring.  By devoting more of her time to some of HHC’s most important strategic initiatives, Lynda will help ensure that the operational perspective of our network and facility leaders more fully informs our corporate-wide strategic agenda and work.”

Both appointments are effective September 1st.

About Bellevue
Bellevue is a member of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and is America's oldest continuously operating hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU School of Medicine, Bellevue is a major referral center for highly complex cases. The 828-bed hospital has more than 4,000 employees and runs an extensive ambulatory care program that provides more than 500,000 outpatient primary care and specialty care visits annually. Its emergency room sees more than 125,000 visits every year. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Comprehensive Children's Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services.

About HHC
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 430,000 member health plan, MetroPlus, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission's John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.