Dr Shabana Parvez, MD FACEP
Dr. Anitha Srinivasan, First Indian American Woman Named CMO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan: NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan has announced that Dr. Anitha Srinivasan will become its next Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective June 1, 2025. With this historic appointment, Dr. Srinivasan becomes the first woman — and the only woman of color — to serve as CMO at Metropolitan Hospital. She will also be one of only two women currently holding the top medical position across the 11 hospitals in the NYC Health + Hospitals system.
This leadership change follows the retirement of Dr. John T. Pellicone, who is stepping down after ten years as CMO. His tenure was marked by a decade of transformation and expansion in patient care at the East Harlem-based hospital.
Dr. Srinivasan brings more than two decades of experience to her new role. She began her career in the 1990s as a surgical resident at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. Later, she joined Metropolitan Hospital as an attending surgeon and associate professor of surgery at New York Medical College. Over the years, she has held several leadership roles — including founding the Metropolitan Breast Cancer Center in 2017, becoming Deputy Chief Medical Officer in 2019, and serving as Director of Perioperative Services since 2020.
As she steps into her new role, Dr. Srinivasan will be only the third person in Metropolitan’s history to serve as Chief Medical Officer.
Julian S. John, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, praised both leaders in the hospital’s official announcement. “We are deeply grateful to Dr. Pellicone for his years of outstanding leadership, clinical insight, and steadfast commitment to our mission,” he said. “As we welcome Dr. Srinivasan, we not only celebrate her remarkable credentials and decades of service but also a significant milestone. She brings surgical excellence, academic leadership, and an unwavering dedication to our patients. I am confident she will lead with compassion, vision, and integrity.”
Dr. Pellicone also voiced his strong support for his successor. “Her commitment to clinical excellence and equitable care has shaped this hospital for more than 20 years,” he said. “She is a trusted leader and an advocate for the communities we serve.”
Dr. Srinivasan expressed her gratitude and sense of purpose in her new role. “I am honored and humbled to serve as Chief Medical Officer at a hospital that has been my professional home for over two decades,” she said. “It is especially meaningful to be the first woman CMO here. I carry that responsibility with pride and purpose. Together, we will continue to provide compassionate, high-quality care while ensuring every patient feels seen and heard.”
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is a 338-bed acute care facility located in East Harlem. It serves more than 350,000 outpatient clinic visits and over 50,000 emergency visits each year. As part of NYC Health + Hospitals — the largest municipal health system in the United States — Metropolitan plays a vital role in delivering accessible, equitable care to communities across New York City.
