NUMC Medical Board Issues Urgent Letter in Opposition to State Takeover, Calls For Restoration of Critical Aid

(EAST MEADOW, NY) – The Medical Board of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) today issued a letter to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and the Members of the State Legislature in strong opposition to a proposed state takeover of the hospital’s Board of Directors, which would strip the hospital of its autonomy and replace its leadership with political appointees. In their letter to lawmakers, the members of the Medical Board noted that, as Nassau County’s sole public safety-net hospital, any downsizing or dismantling of the hospital and its services could overwhelm neighboring providers and create a public health crisis. Board members further noted that, despite financial challenges, NUMC has made significant fiscal improvements, including cutting over $100 million from its operating deficit. The text of the letter follows:

Dear Governor Hochul and Esteemed Members of the New York State Legislature, 

We, the Medical Board of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), write to you as a single body, encompassing the complete spectrum of healthcare and community service. Our members represent the broad swathe of physicians, nurses, residents, clinical chairs, administrators, dieticians, community affiliates, and front-line caregivers who come to work not just because it is a job, but because it is our purpose, our passion. The long-term consequences of the current chessboard maneuvering cannot be ignored. We, the pawns, have been sacrificed and sidelined for far too long. We are compelled to raise our voices not in defiance, but in defense of our lifelong mission, one that is now under the greatest threat it has ever faced. 

We stand in full and unwavering opposition to any plan that seeks to strip NUMC of its autonomy, replace its leadership with political appointees, or downsize its scope under the guise of sustainability. The proposed changes to our institution will irrevocably alter the most fundamental principles of public health care and equity in the State of New York.

NUMC is more than a hospital. It is a promise, a commitment and a lifeline. It is the only public safety-net hospital in Nassau County, serving tens of thousands of uninsured, underinsured, undocumented patients – nameless and voiceless people whom others overlook, and who have nowhere else to turn. Some cast no ballots and carry little sway, yet they bear our highest duty and respect. The intent to dissolve our board in favor of one handpicked by the state severs our connection to the very individuals it claims to protect. We are firmly opposed to the inclusion of any language in the 2026 New York State budget that would alter, terminate, or replace the NHCC Board. NUMC must remain under local control. Decisions about the future of this institution should be made with the input of those who know it best —those who live it every day— not imposed from above.

We are not merely staff – we are a family, a fully-fledged community. An entire ecosystem within a massive building. Over 4,000 individuals across every profession and background call NUMC their professional home. Some of us have other opportunities, ones with more pay, more prestige. Yet we stay —and those who leave often return, quickly reminded of what this place means. This is who we are and where we belong. We are proud of our institution, and we have a strong sense of identity and purpose. We have personally seen the dedication and leadership that our executive team and board bring every day. We stand aligned in our commitment, eager to take the next steps forward together.

At Nassau University Medical Center, providing consistent, compassionate care to the underserved isn’t just part of what we do – it is our calling. It defines who we are, and it drives every decision we make. Our emergency room remains open to all, regardless of ability to pay or language spoken. We do not deny care – we embrace every patient with compassion, provide treatment without judgment, and affirm their inherent dignity. If NUMC is dismantled or diminished, these patients will not disappear. They will flood neighboring hospitals that are already stretched to their limits, and many will fall through the cracks, potentially triggering a public health crisis.

 We’ve seen what happens when safety-net hospitals are forced to close. From Brooklyn to Chicago, Los Angeles to New Orleans, the outcomes are strikingly similar: overcrowded ERs, longer wait times, ineffective trauma systems, disrupted residency training programs, and worsened health outcomes, especially for the most vulnerable. Before you take actions with lasting consequences, these cautionary tales remind us to stop and hear from the foot soldiers on the ground. The ripple effects extend far beyond hospital walls, impacting entire communities.

Should the proposed takeover and downsizing proceed, the fallout will be deep and damaging – shattering communities, systems, and lives. Emergency departments across the region may be pushed past capacity, with extended wait times and diminished outcomes. Ambulance diversions will become more frequent, delaying critical stroke, trauma, and cardiac care. Minutes and seconds matter. Our designation as a Gold Plus Stroke Center and ACS Level I Trauma Center reflects years of dedication and relentless efforts. We are also proud to hold additional recognitions, including designation as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, a Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence, and the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality

Achievement Award – each reflecting our commitment to excellence and evidence-based care. If services are reduced, continuity will be lost for many of our patients who depend on NUMC for critical care including dialysis, oncology, maternal health, psychiatry, and wound care. Our burn unit has saved lives and restored hope to injured firefighters and workers. Preventive services too will be compromised, despite recent investments like our mobile mammography van, which we envision as a model of community outreach for cancer detection. Residency, fellowship, and allied health training programs many of which uplift and train individuals from the very communities we serve, will be dismantled. These trainees don’t just pass through our halls; they see themselves in our patients. We inspire them, and in turn, they choose to give back-often returning to serve in the same neighborhoods that shaped them. If these residency programs are dissolved, so too is a powerful pipeline for empowering future caregivers to serve with purpose and pride. If the plans for takeover proceed, thousands of jobs tied to NUMC will not simply be absorbed elsewhere.

These roles are more than employment-they are sources of identity and connection. Longstanding bonds will be broken, community trust will erode, and those in greatest need will be left behind.

Despite what the critics suggest, we are not failing. We are responding to change with purpose and resolve, always guided by the needs of those we serve. Our emergency services have earned high praise. Our outreach is reaching further than ever. Through every challenge, our staff remains steadfast in their caring, compassion and commitment.

NUMC is more than just a safety net for the underserved -it’s a safety net for other hospitals in the region. We care for patients others can’t, absorb overflow in times of crisis, and provide specialized support where it’s needed most. We are a place of education and research. Our ACGME-accredited training programs educate hundreds of future doctors, nurses, and technologists each year. Many of our physicians have trained at top academic institutions and they choose to stay here because our mission is unparalleled. Our work is showcased at national conferences, where we stand alongside leading institutions. Here at home, we host research and quality seminars that spotlight innovation and inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders.

That inspiration begins early – just last week, hundreds of children joined us for “Bring Your Child to Work Day,” and many left saying they hoped to one day be doctors, nurses, or technologists themselves.

We are not standing in the way of progress – we are reaching out to be part of it. We are asking for dialogue, for transparency, for a seat at the table – for the chance to be heard and to be included in the weighty decisions that affect the future of our noble institution and of our community. If the state seeks revisions, let us help you design them. But we cannot accept being pushed aside while our story is rewritten by those who have never stepped inside our walls. We stand united against a hostile takeover, and against decisions made without the voices of those who serve and lead within this institution. Yet we invite true partnership, an opportunity to be heard, to contribute, and to help shape this institution into a model of excellence for the state and the nation. One that you can take pride in, as we do each day in serving here.

We have now come to a defining moment – one that tests our values and principles. The impact of what is done now will reverberate for decades. What does New York State truly stand for? What does it mean to uphold the promise of a public institution? How can we claim to uphold equity and inclusion while giving the least consideration to those most at risk?

Nassau University Medical Center is not broken. Too much of the current conversation has been shaped by outdated financial reports and incomplete narratives that do not truly reflect who we are today. We challenge you to see us clearly. 

We are working hard each and every day to address the growing health needs of our community. We invite you to meet with us, to walk our halls, and to hear directly from our staff. Let us show you what’s possible when we work together with a sense of urgency, mutual respect and collaboration, and a shared purpose.

Signed,

The Medical Board of Nassau University Medical Center

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