Event Recap: 28th Annual Kovner-Behrman Health Forum

On Thursday, April 10, NYU Wagner hosted the 28th Annual Kovner-Behrman Health Forum. Moderated by Dean Sherry Glied, the panel featured experienced health leaders Pamela Brier, former president and CEO of Maimonides Medical Center; Jeanne Lambrew, director of health care reform at The Century Foundation; and Pat Wang, president and CEO of Healthfirst.

Following opening remarks from Carla Jackie Sampson, director of the NYU Wagner health policy and management and online Master of Health Administration programs, the discussion centered around meeting the current moment in healthcare and the importance of strong leadership during challenging times.  

Lambrew, who served as the commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services from 2019 to 2024, discussed leveraging her experience of leading during the COVID-19 pandemic, likening the unpredictability and unprecedented nature of the circumstances to the current situation.

When discussing the financial challenges facing healthcare today, Brier, who also ran the Jacobi and Bellevue medical centers during her four-decade career in administration, mentioned the importance of keeping the organization’s foundational strategic goals in focus. These objectives, she noted, can help guide leaders to creative solutions for financial agility. She also mentioned the importance of input from the community to establish priorities, including doctors, hospital staff, and patients. 

Wang concluded the session by discussing the qualities of a strong leader. “The most important thing is to bring forth your genuine self into whatever leadership style you embrace,” she said. “At the end of the day, the people around you need you to step up and be the best version of you that you can.”

Watch the recording View the photo gallery