Laura Forese, M.D., M.P.H., is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. NewYork-Presbyterian, which is affiliated with the medical schools of Columbia and Cornell, is recognized by U.S. News as the #5 hospital in the nation and #1 hospital in New York, as well as a best place to work by Forbes, Fortune and Glassdoor.

An orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Forese graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University and Alpha Omega Alpha from Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons. She received her MPH in healthcare management from Columbia’s Mailman School. Dr. Forese has been affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian throughout her career. After practicing surgery for ten years, she held a number of management roles of increasing responsibility with a focus on patient safety, efficiency, and transformation. In her current role, she has ultimate operating responsibility for the enterprise, which has revenue of more than $8B and more than 45,000 employees. Under her leadership, NYP has implemented groundbreaking employee programs for paid parental leave and respite care, implemented NYP OnDemand – an innovative suite of digital health services, and exhibited significant gains in employee engagement and front-line empowerment due to a focus on building a culture of respect.

Active in multiple healthcare and civic organizations, Dr. Forese chairs the NIH’s Clinical Center Research Hospital Board; she is also a Trustee of Princeton University, a board member of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and a director of Cantel Medical. She has been named among the 50 most powerful women in New York by Crain’s Business, the top 25 COOs in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine and has been honored as Mother of the Year by the American Cancer Society.

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