Michael Israel to retire as president, CEO of Westchester Medical Center

Michael D. Israel is retiring as president and CEO of the Westchester Medical Center and the Westchester Medical Center Health Network at the end of next year after serving about 20 years. The organization’s board of directors has hired the executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates based in Stamford to conduct a nationwide search for a successor.

“After almost two decades in this role, this is the right time to move on to my next phase, and for a new leader to come in and build upon all that we have accomplished to improve health care across the Hudson Valley region,” Israel said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this network and my focus over the next year will be to continue to serve our organization, and communities while advancing our mission.”

The WMC Health Network has approximately $3 billion in annual revenue and includes nine hospitals covering eight counties with nearly 1,800 beds. The system has about 12,000 employees. WMCHealth’s Westchester Medical Center and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital are affiliated with New York Medical College, training more than 500 residents and fellows each year.

Among the projects to enhance medical care in the Hudson Valley taking place during Israel’s watch have been: affiliations with the HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley and Bon Secours Charity Health System; the renovation and upgrading of the network’s hospitals and construction of the eight-story, 260,000-square-foot Ambulatory Care Pavilion on the Valhalla campus; a $113 million expansion and enhancement of the HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston; planning and arranging financing for a five-story Critical Care Tower at the Medical Center in Valhalla.

“Michael has been tireless in his efforts to ensure a sturdy and resilient foundation for the network, built upon the principles of providing high quality care with a laser-like focus on continuous improvement,” said Zubeen Shroff, chairman of the Board of Directors. “I think he will be remembered as a builder who lifted this organization and turned it into a premier health care provider in the state of New York.”