| Type: | department |
| Preceding1: | Health Committee, 1793 |
| Preceding2: | New York City Board of Health, 1805 |
| Preceding3: | Metropolitan Board of Health, 1866 |
| Jurisdiction: | New York City |
| Headquarters: | 42-09 28th St Long Island City, NY 11101 |
| Employees: | 7,185 [1] |
| Chief1 Name: | Ashwin Vasan |
| Chief1 Position: | Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| Chief9 Name: | --> |
| Child1 Agency: | New York City Board of Health |
| Child25 Agency: | --> |
| Keydocument1: | New York City Charter |
| Agency Name: | Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| Picture Caption: | 125 Worth Street in 2013 |
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (also known as NYC Health) is the department of the government of New York City[2] responsible for public health along with issuing birth certificates, dog licenses, and conducting restaurant inspection and enforcement. The New York City Board of Health is part of the department.[3] [4] Its regulations are compiled in title 24 of the New York City Rules (the New York City Health Code). Since March 2022, the commissioner has been Ashwin Vasan.
The department was initially set up as the Health Committee (later Commission), a quasi-governmental public health group in response to a yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. Governor John Jay made a proclamation on 13 September 1793 to establish this to regulate the ports of the city and ensure proper quarantines. Three days later, the city, under the leadership of Mayor Richard Varick, created a tandem committee that ensured both private and commercial needs would be addressed. New York would see additional epidemics in 1795, 1796, 1798, 1799, and 1800, which lead to the creation of the 'New York City Board of Health', which held its first meeting in 1805.[5]
In 1866, the New York State legislature enacted a bill establishing the 'Metropolitan Board of Health', consisting of the four Police Commissioners, four Health Commissioners appointed by the Governor, and the Health Officer for the Port of New York.[6] In 1870, the legislature replaced the Board of Health with the Department of Health, with additional responsibilities including street cleaning and sanitary permits.[7] [8]
As of December 1894, Charles G. Wilson was serving as President of the Board of Health.[9]
As a result of its consolidation with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, it was renamed the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on July 29, 2002.[10] In 2021, Michelle E. Morse was named the first Chief Medical Officer of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.[11]
NYC is organized into 30 health districts (sometimes referred to as health center districts), themselves composed of 354 health areas which are sets of census tracts. NYC is also organized into 17 mental health regions.
The departmental hierarchy is:
On-site security services at the five New York City Health and Mental Hygiene clinics is provided by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Police. New York City Health and Mental Hygiene (Police) are empolyed as Special Officers and who have very limited peace officer authority in connection with special duties of employment pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10(40). The exercise of these powers are very limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is actually on duty as listed in Chapter 13 subsection (C):.[12] DOHMH Special Officers are prohibited by New York State Law (Criminal Procedure Law) to use or carry a firearm.
The New York City Police Department responds to all incidents that occur at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene facilities.
The New York City Board of Health is part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and consists of the commissioner of the department, the chairperson of the department's Mental Hygiene Advisory Board, and nine other members appointed by the mayor.[4]
| Members | Titles | Appointed | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave A. Chokshi | MD | August 4, 2020 | Commissioner of Health of the City of New York. | |
| Pamela S. Brier | MPH | Maimonides Medical Center former CEO. | ||
| Sixto R. Caro | MD | NYU School of Medicine clinical assistant professor; NYU Langone physician. | ||
| Joel A. Forman | MD | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai professor; Mount Sinai Hospital affiliated. | ||
| Susan Klitzman | DrPH, MPH, CPH | CUNY School of Public Health professor. | ||
| Lynne D. Richardson | MD, FACEP | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai professor; Mount Sinai Hospital affiliated. | ||
| Gail B. Nayowith | MSW | 1digit LLC principal. | ||
| Rosa M. Gil | DSW | Comunilife Inc. CEO. | ||
| Karen B. Redlener | MS | Children's Health Fund executive director. | ||
| Mitchell H. Katz | MD | NYC Health + Hospitals president. |