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Commissioner of Health of the City of New York
Incumbent Michelle E. Morse (interim) Acting since October 18, 2024; 40 days ago (2024-10-18)
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Style	Doctor
Member of	Government of New York City
Reports to	New York City Deputy Mayor, Health and Human Services
Appointer	Mayor of New York City
Term length	At the pleasure of the mayor
Constituting instrument	New York City Charter
Formation	April 27, 1870; 154 years ago (1870-04-27)
First holder	Joseph Bosworth
Unofficial names	New York City Health Commissioner
Website	/www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/about-doh/the-commissioner.page

The commissioner of health of the City of New York is the head of the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The commissioner is appointed by the Mayor of New York City, and also serves on the city's Board of Health with the chairperson of the Department's Mental Hygiene Advisory Board and nine other members appointed by the mayor.

History

The Metropolitan Board of Health, which was the predecessor agency to the Department of Health and consisted of sanitary and vital statistics bureaus, had its first meeting on March 5, 1866. The modern Department of Health, under a single commissioner, was formed by the New York City Charter revision pursuant to Chapter 137 of the Laws of 1870 passed by the New York State legislature. In the early years after its formation, commissioners were sometimes political appointments, with no experience in medicine or related fields. In 2002, the Department of Health was merged with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services to form the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Qualifications

City regulations currently require that the commissioner of health must be a doctor of medicine, and have either

• an M.P.H. degree, an M.B.A. or M.P.A. degree with concentration in the health field, or an equivalent degree and at least five years' teaching experience college or university public health, or
• at least five years' experience in public health administration.

Duties

According to the New York City Charter, the commissioner is broadly responsible for preparing plans for construction and operation of medical and health care facilities and establishing their priorities, has the power to compel the testimony of witnesses and produce reports and documents in matters regarding health, and assess penalties up to $1,000 for violations or failures to comply with health notices or regulations. These duties involve regulating and overseeing matters ranging from reportable contagious diseases, to registration of birth and deaths, restaurant inspections, selling food from carts, selling tobacco products to minors and monitoring of smoking in public areas, regulation of wild animals, and sending health alerts to the public and doctors.

List of commissioners of health of the City of New York

References

1. "List of Commissioners". www.nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
2. ^ "Protecting Public Health in New York City: 200 Years of Leadership 1805-2005" (PDF). www.nyc.gov/. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
3. "New York City Board of Health". nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
4. "City Health Board to Mark 75th Year – La Guardia, Rice and Six Ex-Commissioners to Take Part in Ceremonies Wednesday – Agency Had Two Bureaus – Now Has 11 and Personnel of 2,700 – Ten-Year Civic Fight Preceded Establishment". The New York Times. March 2, 1941. p. 44. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
5. ^ "Grant Picks Out New Men – He Makes Many Changes in City Offices – Men Unknown in Public Life Appointed to Responsible Places – Politicians Displeased". The New York Times. May 3, 1889. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
6. "Public Portal to the Laws of the City of New York, chapter 22, section 551". lawsofnyc.com. City of New York. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
7. "Public Portal to the Laws of the City of New York, chapter 22, section 555". lawsofnyc.com. City of New York. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
8. "Health Data Publications". nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
9. "Data and Statistics". nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
10. "Food and Restaurants". nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
11. "Mobile Food Vendor Permit Checklist" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
12. "Smoking Legislation". nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
13. "New York City Health Code – Article 161" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
14. "Health Alerts". nyc.gov. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
15. "Board of Health – Progress of the Organization – Judge Bosworth Chosen President – Dismissal of Employees – Routine Proceedings". The New York Times. April 28, 1870. p. 8. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
16. "Common Council – The Mayor's Nominations Confirmed – Resolutions of Respect to the Late Chief-Justice Chase". The New York Times. May 9, 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
17. "Gen. Shaler Confirmed – The Aldermen and the New Health Commissioner". The New York Times. June 14, 1883. p. 8. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
18. "Gen. A. Shaler Dead in His 84th Year – Distinguished Civil War Veteran and Long Prominent in State National Guard – Ex-Head of Health Board – Also Former Fire Commissioner – President of Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War". The New York Times. December 28, 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
19. "Gen. Shaler's Position – Reserving His Rights to Protest Against Removal". New York Times. March 8, 1887. p. 8. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
20. "In Gen. Shaler's Place – James C. Bayles Appointed and the Politicians Not Satisfied". The New York Times. March 15, 1887. p. 8. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
21. "Mayor Grant's Appointments". The New York Times. May 3, 1889. p. 4. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
22. "The New City Officials – As Announced by Mayor Van Wyck, the Slate Contains Some Surprises – Politicians Are Puzzled – Friends of Hugh J. Grant Seem to be Intentionally Ignored – The List as Given Out Yesterday". The New York Times. January 2, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
23. "Nathan Straus Dies; Nation Mourns Loss of Philanthropist – End Comes in 83d Year After Illness That Began With Wife's Death Eight Months Ago – Two Children at Bedside – Third Is Summoned From Paris – Simple Funeral Tomorrow to Be Open to Public – Hoover Leads in Tributes – World-Wide Benefactions and Work for Zionism Extolled by Leaders In Many Fields". The New York Times. January 12, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
24. "Commissioner Straus Out – President of the Board of Health Says His Business Needs Attention – Col. Murphy His Successor – Story that Mayor Van Wyck's Criticism of the Department's Affairs Is Responsible for the Resignation Is Disputed by Mr. Straus". The New York Times. March 4, 1898. p. 12. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
25. "Death of Col. Murphy – Ex-Police Commissioner Succumbs to Old Stomach Trouble – His Civil War Record and Varied Career in New York City Democratic Politics". The New York Times. March 5, 1903. p. 9. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
26. "Col. Murphy New Head of Police Force – Appoints Devery as His First Deputy Commissioner – Gov. Odell Indignant – Thinks Ex-Chief's Retention Is An Affront and May Remove the Mayor – John B. Sexton President of the Health Board". The New York Times. February 23, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
27. "John B. Sexton, Ex-Sheriff, Dead – Former Police and Health Commissioner Was a Power in Tammany Ten Years Ago – Leader of Old Nineteenth – But Defeated In 1903 by James J. Hagan, Who Routed "Old Timers" with Backing of Murphy". The New York Times. April 2, 1910. p. 11. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
28. "New Chiefs in Control". The New York Times. January 2, 1902. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
29. ^ "Dr. E.J. Lederle Dies in Sanitarium – Man Twice City Health Commissioner Passed Away March 7 – Wife's Death Recent". The New York Times. March 15, 1921. p. 11. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
30. "New Mayor In Office – Col. McClellan's Address In Taking Over City Government – Promises to Administer Affairs in the Interest of All the People – Compliments His Predecessor on the Esteem Which He Has Earned". The New York Times. January 2, 1904. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
31. "Darlington Dead; Health Crusader – Former City Commissioner Grand Sachem of Tammany, Stricken Up-State at 86 A Colorful Career Established Tubercular Institution". The New York Times. August 24, 1945. p. 19. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
32. "Stover, Parks Head; Lederle Is Placed – Dr. Darlington Superseded, as He Had Been Only Nominal Head of Health Department – Murphy Succeeds Butler – New Tenement House Commissioner Active in Reform Politics – Tammany Again Ignored by Mayor Gaynor". The New York Times. January 10, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
33. "Goldwater Heads Board of Health – Dr. Lederle's Successor Known as Expert on Affairs of Hospitals – At Mount Sinai Ten Years – Mayor Expects to Name Water Commissioner and Corporation Counsel This Week". The New York Times. January 20, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
34. "Dr. S.S. Goldwater is Dead Here at 69 – Ex-Commissioner of Hospitals World Authority on Building and Administration – Overhauled City System – Sponsor of '3-Cents-a-Day Plan' to Insure Care – An Ex-Health Department Chief". The New York Times. October 23, 1942. p. 21. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
35. "To Continue Health Rules – Dr. Emerson, New Commissioner, To Begin His Service Tomorrow". The New York Times. October 31, 1915. p. 18. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
36. "Dr. Amster Head of Health Board – Hylan Appoints President of Bronx County Medical Society in Emerson's Place – Friend of Arthur Murphy – Mayor Directs Department Heads to Select Employees from Civil Service Lists". The New York Times. January 16, 1918. p. 16. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
37. "Dr. J Lewis Amster, Surgeon, Ex-Health Commissioner, Dead". The New York Times. May 5, 1960. p. 35. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
38. "Assailing Hylan, Dr. Amster Quits As Health Head – Resigns Rather Than Remove Physicians of Advisory Council on Mayor's Order – Dr. Copeland in His Place – Retiring Executive Warns Hylan That "Present Chaos" Portends Federal Intervention – Mayor Will Not Change – He "Doesn't Give a Darn," and Will Run the Department as He Sees Fit". The New York Times. April 30, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
39. "Senator Copeland Dies in Washington; Overwork Factor – Suffered Circulatory Collapse After Leaving Floor Just Before Adjournment – Committee Tasks Taxing – Political Effect of the Senator's Passing Likely to Be Large". The New York Times. June 18, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
40. "Dr. F.J. Monaghan Succeeds Copeland – Is Appointed and Sworn In by Hylan as Health Commissioner – In City's Employ 5 Years – Served as Sanitary Superintendent – Is Neighbor of the Mayor In Brooklyn". The New York Times. No. March 8, 1923. p. 19. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
41. "Walker Now Mayor – Dr. Louis I. Harris Named Health Head – New Mayor Picks Aids for All Posts but One – Formal Induction at Noon – Satisfied With Selections – Many Hylan Heads Retained – McCooey and Connelly Fare Well in Job Distribution. Nicholson to Stay a Year – Corporation Counsel Then to Quit on a Pension – Senator Downing Expected to Succeed Him". The New York Times. January 1, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
42. "Dr. Louis I. Harris Dies Here at 56 – Former Health Commissioner Served More Than 20 Years in the City Department – Began Practice in 1905 – Founded Industrial Hygiene Division – Was a Graduate of Columbia – Native of Austria". The New York Times. January 6, 1939. p. 21. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
43. "Dr. Harris to Join Dairy Corporation – Health Commissioner Resigns to Be Consulting Expert for National Products – To Get $5,000 City Pension – No Political Pressure, He Says – Will Quit in Month – Talks to Walker in California". The New York Times. July 24, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
44. "Dr. Wynne Is Named City Health Chief – Walker Swears In the Deputy Commissioner to Succeed Dr. Harris, Who Retires – Praises Latter's Service – New Bureau Head Says He Will Continue Board's Policies Without Major Changes - He May Win Hospital Post – Department to Be Formed in Fall and His Work in That Field Is Said to Have Pleased Mayor – May Head Hospital Department – Department to Be Formed in Fall and His Work in That Field is Said to Have Pleased Mayor". The New York Times. August 18, 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
45. "Dr. Shirley Wynne Dead Here at 59 – Health Commissioner, 1928-33, Under Walker and.O'Brien, Stricken After Operation – In Department 26 Years – Fought Racketeering in Milk Industry – Aided Boy Scout and Child Health Work". The New York Times. April 20, 1942. p. 21. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
46. "LaGuardIia Moves to Clean Up City; Starts Hunt for Graft in Bureaus; Tammany Organizes the Alderman – Mayor Swears in Aides – Tells Each to Remove 'Every One' if Needed to Get Efficiency – Pledges Them Free Hand – Politicians No Longer Will Interfere With Prisons or Relief, He Says – First Day Is Strenuous – New Executive Leaves Home at 8:28 A.M., Does Not Quit City Hall Till 6:30". The New York Times. January 2, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
47. "Stebbins Sworn In As Health Officer – Columbia University Man Succeeds Dr. Rice, Who Is Ill, As Commissioner". The New York Times. July 17, 1942. p. 13. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
48. Cook, Joan (May 9, 1987). "Ernest L. Stebbins, Expert on Public Health". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
49. "Bernecker Named City Health Head – Mayor Ignores Proposals of the Parran Committee – Jacobs Gets the Hospital Post – Both Men Are Sworn In – Stebbins Was to Have Stayed Until July 1, But O'Dwyer Displeasure Is Reported". The New York Times. March 5, 1946. p. 27. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
50. "Dr. Bernecker, 63, of Bellevue, Dies – Hospital Administrator of N.Y.U. Center Formerly Headed City Institutions". The New York Times. June 28, 1955. p. 27. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
51. "Bernecker Quits City Health Post; Gets Old Job Back – O'Dwyer Reappoints Resigned Commissioner to Return as Head Of Hospitals – Weinstein Is In Charge – He Is Picked to Serve Until a Permanent Man Is Chosen – Jacobs Back to Bellevue". The New York Times. March 14, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
52. "Israel Weinstein, City's Health Chief". The New York Times. May 29, 1975. p. 38. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
53. Potter, Robert W. (November 4, 1947). "Weinstein Resigns; Mustard Becomes City Health Head – Commissioner, Due to Retire Soon, Resumes Lower Post – Department Under Inquiry – Gives 'Personal Reasons' – Successor, a Columbia Dean, Plans to Bring More Benefits of Research to Public". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
54. "Harry Mustard, Physician, 77, Dies -". The New York Times. August 6, 1966. p. 23. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
55. Crowell, Paul (January 1, 1950). "O'Dwyer Sworn In; Gives $15,000 Post to Campaign Aide = Jerry Finkelstein Is Appointed to Chairmanship of City Planning Commission – 120 See Brief Ceremony – Its Scene Is Gracie Mansion – Few Names Appear in List of 58 Job Selectons". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
56. "Dr. Mahoney Dies; Ex-City Official – Health Commissioner, '49-54, Developed Treatment of Syphilis With Penicillin". The New York Times. February 24, 1957. p. 84. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
57. Fowle, Farnsworth (January 1, 1954). "Wagner Names 2 Women To Cabinet – Dr. Baumgartner and Magistrate Kross to Head Departments". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
58. "Senate Confirms Thompson as Ambassador at Large". The New York Times. October 3, 1962. p. 12. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
59. Fowler, Glenn (January 17, 1991). "Dr. Leona Baumgartner, 88, Dies; Led New York Health Department". The New York Times. p. B10. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
60. "12 Diphtheria Cases Are Feared in City". The New York Times. October 9, 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
61. "Brooklyn Clinic To Aid Children – Emergency Center Planned – Dr. James Sworn In". The New York Times. October 31, 1962. p. 24. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
62. "Dr. George James Dead at 56; Mt. Sinai Medical School Dean – Former Health Commissioner Was a Blue Cross Director and Hospital President". The New York Times. March 20, 1972. p. 40. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
63. "Acting City Health Chief To Take Missouri Post". The New York Times. December 1, 1965. p. 49. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
64. "Dentist To Head City Health Agency". The New York Times. January 15, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
65. Rusk, M.D., Howard A. (June 5, 1966). "City Health Milestone – The Patient as a Whole Human Being Is New Administrator's Special Interest". The New York Times. p. 49. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
66. "Dr. Howard J. Brown, 50, Dies; First City Health Services Chief – Lindsay Appointee Disclosed Homosexuality in '73 and Set Up Gay Task Force". The New York Times. February 3, 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
67. "A New Commissioner – Dr. Edward O'Rourke". The New York Times. February 18, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
68. "O'Rourke Quits City Health Post To Take a Deanship in Hawaii – Mayor Omits Praise in His Letter of Acceptance – Two Differed on Garbage Strike". The New York Times. May 17, 1969. p. 17. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
69. Tolchin, Martin (May 28, 1969). "Health Post Goes To Woman – Dr. Mary McLaughlin to be Named by Mayor Today". The New York Times. p. 28. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
70. "Administrative Post Is Going To Dr. McLaughlin". The New York Times. January 7, 1972. p. 39. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
71. Konigsberg, Eric (July 8, 2007). "Dr. Joseph Cimino, 73, Dies; Was Leader in Public Health". The New York Times. p. A17. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
72. Carroll, Maurice (January 8, 1974). "Beame to Name Another Black Deputy Mayor". The New York Times. p. 19. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
73. van Gelder, Lawrence (July 15, 1997). "Lowell Bellin, 68, Specialist In Public Health for Beame". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
74. "Metropolitan Briefs – New Health Chief Sworn". The New York Times. January 4, 1977. p. 31. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
75. Sullivan, Ronald (March 8, 1978). "Koch Names Schupf Health Services Administrator". The New York Times. p. A21. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
76. Saxon, Wolfgang (October 15, 1998). "Reinaldo Ferrer, 82, Educator and Ex-New York City Health Chief". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
77. Sullivan, Ronald (November 29, 1981). "Ex-Head of Federal Disease Center Named City Health Commissioner". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
78. "David J. Sencer Dies at 86; Led Disease-Control Agency". The New York Times. May 4, 2011. p. A27. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
79. Nix, Crystal (March 12, 1986). "Koch Names An Official of Unicef City's New Health Commissioner". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
80. Purdum, Todd S. (January 20, 1991). "Despite Protests, Dinkins Chooses Indiana Official as Health Chief". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
81. Lee, Felicia (May 29, 1991). "Amid Discord, Myers Quits as Health Commissioner". The New York Times. p. B1. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
82. Navarro, Mireya (December 25, 1991). "New Health Commissioner Is Appointed". The New York Times. p. 35. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
83. Fireston, David (March 22, 1997). "Health Chief Quits to Take Job as Adviser In Washington". The New York Times. p. 26. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
84. Mojica, Benjamin; Rautenberg, Ellen (August 2, 1997). "Racial Gap Narrows For AIDS Treatments (letter to the editor)". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
85. Stout, David (September 21, 1997). "Whatever Happened to John?". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
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87. Sengupta, Somini (January 15, 1998). "Giuliani Calls For a Merger Of 2 Agencies". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
88. Cooper, Michael (December 28, 2001). "Bloomberg Appoints Five To Be City Commissioners". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
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93. Jorgensen, Jillian (December 19, 2019). "Dr. Oxiris Barbot named New York City health commissioner". New York Daily News. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
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• Government of New York City
• Commissioners of Health of the City of New York
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene