Elmhurst Hospital leader brings healthcare expertise to city government
From Hospital Administration to City-Wide Health Leadership During Crisis
Helen Arteaga, who has led NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst since February 2021, will become Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Arteaga is the first woman of color and first Latina to serve as CEO of the hospital, which operates as a 545-bed Level I Trauma and Academic Medical Center in Queens serving diverse immigrant and working-class communities. Her appointment reflects Mamdani’s commitment to centering the leadership and perspective of people with direct experience in healthcare delivery and community service rather than relying solely on academic credentials and disconnected bureaucratic expertise.
Historic Leadership at Elmhurst Hospital During COVID-19 Pandemic
Arteaga assumed the Elmhurst Hospital position at a particularly challenging moment in 2021. The hospital had stood at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, treating overwhelming numbers of critically ill patients during the initial surge when the health system was nearly overwhelmed. Under her leadership, Elmhurst navigated the unprecedented public health crisis, treating patients, protecting frontline workers, and maintaining operations despite extraordinary challenges and resource constraints. Mamdani cited Arteaga’s ability to guide the hospital “through success and adversity” as a key reason for her appointment to the city-wide position.
Achievements and Recognition During Her Tenure as CEO
Under Arteaga’s leadership, Elmhurst Hospital has been named among America’s Best Regional Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, a significant recognition for a public hospital serving predominantly poor and uninsured patients. In September 2023, the hospital achieved Joint Commission Health Equity Gold standard certification, becoming the first hospital in New York State to earn this recognition for excellence. The Joint Commission honored Elmhurst’s “efforts to reduce disparities in healthcare access, outcomes and experiences” across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Learn more at NYC Health + Hospitals.
Personal Connection to Elmhurst’s Mission and Healthcare Justice
Arteaga has a deeply personal connection to Elmhurst Hospital that informs her approach to healthcare leadership and equity. During her emotional remarks at the Tuesday announcement, she shared that the hospital saved her life during the COVID-19 pandemic when she contracted the virus while serving frontline staff. She also disclosed that her father died at Elmhurst Hospital, stating that the institution represented something profoundly important to her family and community. “It is here where my advocacy was born. It is here where my dad died without having lack of insurance. It is here where I survived COVID,” she said, explaining her deep personal commitment to the institution and to community healthcare justice. This personal stake in healthcare equity informs her approach to public health policy and resource allocation.
The Deputy Mayor Role and Expansive Portfolio Responsibilities
As Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Arteaga will oversee a massive portfolio including the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Health + Hospitals (the nation’s largest municipal healthcare system serving 1.7 million patients annually), the Department of Social Services serving 200,000 families, and the Department of Homeless Services. She succeeds Suzanne Miles-Gustave in the position. This role places Arteaga at the center of the Mamdani administration’s approach to serving vulnerable New Yorkers and addressing the city’s healthcare, mental health, and social service challenges. Learn more at NYC Department of Health.
Expanded Vision for Health Services and Accessibility
Arteaga pledged to provide “innovative solutions” to expand healthcare access across the city. She acknowledged that healthcare services operate as a “safety net” that many New Yorkers depend on to survive the hardest times in their lives. Her vision emphasizes reaching people suffering in silence who do not know whether the government will protect them or if they have access to needed services.
Addressing the Affordability Crisis in Healthcare
Arteaga specifically highlighted the affordability crisis that drives many people to seek public health and social services. “I’m ready to work alongside you to provide innovative solutions so you can take advantage of every opportunity, every interaction to address the affordability crisis that brings so many through our doors,” she stated. This focus on affordability signals that her health services portfolio will address not just medical treatment but the economic dimensions of health crises and poverty’s relationship to disease.
Healthcare Equity and Addressing Disparities
Her commitment to health equity, demonstrated by Elmhurst’s achievement of Joint Commission Health Equity Gold certification, suggests that the Deputy Mayor for Health will prioritize addressing healthcare disparities that disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income populations. This commitment reflects Mamdani’s broader campaign message emphasizing the needs of marginalized and underserved New Yorkers. Learn more about healthcare equity at The Joint Commission.
Transition From Hospital to Municipal Government
Arteaga confirmed that she would leave her position at Elmhurst to serve as Deputy Mayor, saying she would not depart the hospital unless it was for “something important.” This statement reflects her deep commitment to the institution and her seriousness about the municipal leadership role. Her replacement at Elmhurst will be determined by NYC Health + Hospitals leadership in consultation with the community.
