NYC Health News

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190,000 NY Caregivers Seek Vote to Join 1199SEIU

Nearly 190,000 New York caregivers could participate in a union representation election after workers in the state's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program filed with the National Labor Relations Board seeking representation by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Approximately 70,000 CDPAP caregivers signed union authorization cards supporting an election, according to the union. CDPAP allows eligible older adults and people with disabilities to select and direct caregivers who assist them at home, including relatives in many cases. The organizing effort comes as demand for home care workers continues to increase nationwide. Federal projections show employment of home health and personal care aides growing by approximately 847,300 jobs between 2025 and 2035, the largest projected numerical increase of any U.S. occupation

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NYU Langone Names New Director of Upper GI Oncology

NYU Langone Health has appointed Dr. Rutika Mehta as director of upper gastrointestinal medical oncology at Perlmutter Cancer Center, expanding the health system's clinical care and research involving cancers of the stomach, esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. Mehta specializes in personalized cancer treatment using molecular profiling, circulating tumor DNA testing and biomarker-driven therapies to help guide treatment decisions. In her new role, she will also work to expand clinical trials for patients with upper GI cancers, including studies of targeted treatments and other emerging therapies. Mehta joins NYU Langone from Weill Cornell Medicine and previously helped develop an upper GI malignancies program and clinical-trials portfolio at Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida.

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NYC Health + Hospitals Wins Top Dental Education Award

NYC Health + Hospitals has received national recognition for its system-wide dental residency programs, earning the 2027 William J. Gies Award for Eminence in Achievement from the American Dental Education Association. The health system operates 19 graduate dental education programs spanning general dentistry and specialties including pediatric dentistry, dental public health, dental anesthesiology and oral and maxillofacial surgery. More than 200 dental residents graduate from the programs annually while training across NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. The system also provides more than 225,000 dental visits each year. NYC Health + Hospitals will formally receive the award during the ADEA Gies Foundation's awards celebration in March 2027.

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NYC Carter Hospital Hits 81% Ventilator Weaning Rate

NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter in East Harlem says its specialized ventilator weaning program has increased its successful weaning rate to 81%, up from 72% in 2023. The 14-bed program has helped 150 patients transition off mechanical ventilation over the past year, with the process typically taking two to four weeks. Carter says the program has also expanded opportunities for patients who previously might not have been considered candidates for ventilator weaning. Among them is Lisa McNamee, who had relied on mechanical ventilation for nearly five years after developing severe respiratory failure. McNamee was successfully weaned from the ventilator in June 2026 and is now breathing independently.

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NYU Langone Reaches $8.5M DOJ Settlement in NYC

NYU Langone Health has reached an $8.5 million agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice resolving a federal investigation involving gender-affirming medical care provided to patients under 18. Under the agreement, the New York City-based health system will cease providing minors with specified treatments, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgical procedures. The resolution is part of a broader federal investigation involving hospitals and potential violations of federal health care and billing laws. NYU Langone said the agreement protects the confidentiality of patients, families and providers while avoiding prolonged litigation. The health system expressly denied wrongdoing or liability, and the Justice Department stated that the claims resolved through the agreement are allegations and that there has been no determination of liability.

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NYC Weill Cornell Gets $17.4M for Tuberculosis Research

New York City researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have received a $17.4 million federal grant to pursue new ways of shortening tuberculosis treatment and making therapy easier for patients to complete. The five-year research initiative will examine why some TB bacteria survive existing medications and identify biological vulnerabilities that could lead to faster and more effective drug combinations. Weill Cornell scientists will work with researchers from Rockefeller University, Tufts University and other collaborators, using approaches that include genomics, single-cell technologies and machine learning. The research could help address a persistent challenge in tuberculosis care: current antibiotic regimens can require months of treatment, increasing the likelihood that patients discontinue therapy before the infection has been fully eliminated.

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NYC Mount Sinai Studies Link Wildfire Smoke to Health Risks

New research led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggests that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke may carry greater health risks than comparable amounts of air pollution from other sources. Two large studies examined the effects of wildfire-related fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, on patients with lung cancer and people hospitalized for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Researchers found associations between wildfire pollution and poorer survival following lung cancer diagnoses, as well as increased hospitalization risks for conditions affecting the heart and lungs. The findings are particularly relevant as smoke from major fires increasingly travels across large portions of the United States, potentially exposing communities far from active wildfires and raising new questions about how health systems address air-quality risks.

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Ronald McDonald House New York Unveils Renovation

Ronald McDonald House New York has completed a major renovation of shared family spaces at its Upper East Side residence, where children undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses stay with their families. The redesigned second floor at 405 East 73rd Street includes expanded areas for meals, recreation, education and family activities, along with spaces where caregivers can work or take private calls. New amenities include updated kitchens, dedicated play and tutoring areas, and a soundproof studio for music and podcast activities. The project is intended to provide families staying in Manhattan for medical care with more opportunities to maintain everyday routines and spend time together while navigating lengthy or demanding periods of pediatric treatment.

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Harlem Hospital Expands Adult Sickle Cell Clinic Hours

Adults living with sickle cell disease have expanded access to specialized treatment at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem following an increase in operating hours for the hospital’s new adult clinic. Launched in January, the program now sees patients on Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and combines management of sickle cell disease with routine primary and preventive healthcare. Patients can receive medications, screenings, pain-management support and assistance coordinating their care without having to navigate a separate medical practice for everyday health needs. The Harlem-based program also connects patients with social and community health workers who can assist with behavioral health concerns and challenges involving food or housing. Harlem is one of three NYC Health + Hospitals locations providing specialized adult sickle cell care.