Michael Dowling

Michael J. Dowling is President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, which delivers world-class clinical care throughout the New York metropolitan area; pioneering research at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research; a visionary approach to medical education, highlighted by the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine; and healthcare coverage to individuals, families and businesses through the CareConnect Insurance Co., Inc. North Shore-LIJ is the largest integrated healthcare system in New York State with more than 6,400 beds and a total workforce of about 54,000 employees – the state’s largest private employer. With 19 hospitals, more than 400 outpatient physician practices and a full complement of long-term care services, North Shore-LIJ is one of the nation’s largest health systems, with $7.8 billion in annual revenue. Prior to becoming president and CEO in 2002, Mr. Dowling was the health system’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. Before joining North Shore-LIJ in 1995, he was a senior vice president at Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Mr. Dowling served in New York State government for 12 years, including seven years as state director of Health, Education and Human Services and deputy secretary to the governor. He was also commissioner of the New York State Department of Social Services. Before his public service career, Mr. Dowling was a professor of social policy and assistant dean at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services, and director of the Fordham campus in Westchester County. Mr. Dowling has been honored with many awards over the years. They include: the 2012 B’nai B’rith National Healthcare Award, the 2011 Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award from the National Center for Healthcare Leadership, the 2011 CEO Information Technology Award from Modern Healthcare magazine and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the National Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the State University of New York’s Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, an Outstanding Public Service Award from the Mental Health Association of New York State, an Outstanding Public Service Award from the Mental Health Association of Nassau County, the Alfred E. Smith Award from the American Society for Public Administration, and the Gold Medal from the American Irish Historical Society. Mr. Dowling is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and Chairman of the North American Board of the Smurfit School of Business at University College, Dublin, Ireland. He also serves as a board member of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and board member and Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. He is also past Chairman and current board member of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL), the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) and the League of Voluntary Hospitals of New York. Mr. Dowling grew up in Limerick, Ireland. He earned his undergraduate degree from University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, and his master’s degree from Fordham University. He also has honorary doctorates from Hofstra University and Dowling College.