New York City's new health commissioner, Alister Martin, MD, is stepping into the role at a time of growing tension between local public health officials and federal policy.
In a conversation with MedPage Today Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Faust, MD, Martin discusses his priorities for the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene -- including protecting Medicaid coverage, addressing affordability, and countering declining vaccination rates -- while navigating what he calls unprecedented challenges from federal public health leadership.
The following is a transcript of their remarks:
Faust: Hey, it's Jeremy Faust, editor-in-chief of MedPage Today. We are joined by the new Commissioner of Health for the City of New York, Dr. Alister Martin. Dr. Martin started as a resident ER physician in my program here in Boston. So I've known Alister since he was coming up, and his talent was apparent from the beginning. Since graduating from our program, he has joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School. He has been an attending physician. He went into the non-profit sector. He served at the White House. He now runs the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York City, which oversees 7,000 employees. Dr. Alister Martin, thanks for joining us. Commissioner.
