Laura Lee Forese is an American pediatric orthopedic surgeon and hospital administrator. She was the Executive Vice-President and COO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) until 2023.

Laura Forese
Born
Laura Lee Forese

1961 or 1962 (age 62–63)
Education
Occupation(s)hospital administrator, orthopedic surgeon
Years active1993–present
TitleEVP and COO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Board member of
Spouse
Robert Downey
(m. 1988)
Children3

Biography

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As an undergrad at Princeton University, Forese majored in Civil Engineering and Operations Research, but retained an interest in studying medicine.[1][2] She graduated summa cum laude in 1983 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She went on to study at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in 1987, and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. At Columbia Presbyterian, she did her internship in general surgery and her residency in orthopedic surgery.[2]

In 1993, she joined Helen Hayes Hospital and later became chief of surgery and anesthesia services[2] She also continued as a faculty member at Columbia University.[3][4] She received a Master of Public Health in Health Services Management from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in 1995.[2] From 1998 to 2002, she was vice chair in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia.[4]

She joined NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2003 as the vice president of medical affairs.[3] In 2005, she became the chief medical officer and senior vice president, and in 2006 she was also appointed the role of chief operating officer.[4] In 2013, she became president of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.[5] In October 2015, following a reorganization of the group, she returned to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell as the executive vice president and chief operating officer.[6]

In 2019, Crain’s New York Business listed Forese at number 9 on their list of fifty Most Powerful Women in New York.[7] A 2019 salary survey indicated she was the second-highest compensated executive in the hospital with a salary of $5,286,445.[8]

In May 2022, Forese announced she was going to retire from NYP in January 2023.[3] She was succeeded by Brian Donley.[9] Donely, also an orthopedic surgeon, left his position of CEO of Cleveland Clinic London to join NYP.

Other ventures

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In 2015, Forese joined the board of trustees at Princeton University, where she is serving an eight-year term.[10][11] She was also on the board of directors for Cantel Medical Corporation[12] prior to its acquisition by Steris. In 2016, a major restructuring at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, resulted in her appointment as chairman of their Research Hospital Board.[13][14]

In 2018, she joined the inaugural board for the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.[7][15] In 2021, she became a board member on the Shubert Organization which does theater production.[16] She also joined the board on medical treatments company Nereid Therapeutics.[14]

Personal life

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She married physician Robert Downey in 1988 when they were both residents at Presbyterian Hospital.[17] They have three children.[16] They lived in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.[18][2] In 2016, the American Cancer Society honored her as a Mother of the Year.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Laura Forese (July 2014). "Women Leaders – Health Care Innovators – An Interview with Laura L. Forese, M.D., M.P.H., President, NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System". Leaders Magazine (Interview). Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Laura Forese '83". Princeton University. 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Gooch, Kelly (May 11, 2022). "NewYork-Presbyterian COO to retire". Becker’s Hospital Review. Becker's Healthcare. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Dr. Laura Forese, Chief Medical Officer, Appointed Chief Operating Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell". Weill Cornell Medical Center Newsroom (Press release). July 13, 2006. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Madden, Peter (November 10, 2015). "Laura L. Forese, MD, MPH". Westchester Magazine.
  6. ^ Appleby, Chuck (March 2016). "Viewpoint" (PDF). Scottsdale Institute.
  7. ^ a b Lamantia, Jonathan (June 3, 2019). "Most Powerful Women in New York 2019". Crain’s New York Business. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  8. ^ Paddock, Anne (March 18, 2022). "Executive Compensation at New York and Presbyterian Hospital (2019)". Paddock Post. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Mensik, Hailey (October 7, 2022). "NewYork-Presbyterian taps former Cleveland Clinic London CEO for executive role". Healthcare Dive. Industry Dive. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Knapp, Krystal (June 8, 2015). "Princeton University Names Nine New Trustees ⋆ Princeton, NJ local news %".
  11. ^ "Board of Trustees, 2022-23". Office of the President – Princeton University. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Vaidya, Anuja (March 20, 2015). "Cantel Medical names Dr. Laura Forese to board of directors". Becker's Spine Review. Becker's Healthcare.
  13. ^ Sternberg, Steve. "New NIH Clinical Center Management Will Oversee Safety and Outcomes Not Science". U.S. News and World Report.
  14. ^ a b Nereid Therapeutics (October 25, 2021). "Nereid Therapeutics Announces Appointments of Laura Forese and Rupert Vessey to Its Board of Directors" (Press release) – via BioSpace.
  15. ^ "NYS bishops announce formation of Mother Cabrini Health Foundation" (Press release). May 9, 2018 – via The Catholic Sun.
  16. ^ a b Rabinowitz, Chloe (September 28, 2021). "Dr. Laura Forese Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Shubert Organization". Broadway World. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Dr. Forese Marries Dr. Robert Downey". New York Times. September 11, 1988.
  18. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths Forese, Florine J. (Nee Skutnik)". New York Times. February 3, 2003.
  19. ^ "Honorees – Mothers of the Year 2016 Awards Luncheon". American Cancer Society. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
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