Celebrating 20 Years of Impact 

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Convening: 1:00 PM

Cocktail Reception: 5:30 PM 

 

 Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

36 Battery Place, New York, New York 10280

 

 

For two decades, the New York Health Foundation has worked with an exceptional community of grantees, partners, advocates, and leaders to improve the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. Please join us for a day of learning, reflection, gratitude, and celebration!

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Registration & Light Refreshments
 
1:00 PM - 1:10 PM
Welcome

Ellen Rautenberg, Chair, Board of Directors, NYHealth

1:10 PM - 1:30 PM
President's Remarks

David Sandman, President and CEO, NYHealth

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
Panel 1: Changemaking: Health Policy in Action

Panelists:

  • Aparna Mekala, CEO, Primary Care Development Corporation 
  • Clyde “Butch” Tate, Chief Counsel, All Rise 
  • Andrés Vives, CEO, Hunger Solutions New York 
2:20 PM - 3:00 PM
Fireside Chat: Protecting the Safety Net for the Future

Speaker: Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals

3:00 PM - 3:20 PM
Break
 
3:20 PM - 4:10 PM
Panel 2: Grassroots to Grasstops: Community Voice Driving Health Systems Change

Panelists:

  • Alzahraa (Zizi) K. Ahmed, Chair, New York State Community Health Worker Association Steering Committee; Research Education Program Coordinator, NYU Langone Health's Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  • Helen Strom, Benefits and Homeless Advocacy Director, Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center
  • Becca Telzak, Co-Executive Director, Make the Road New York
4:10 PM - 5:00 PM
Panel 3: Spreading Innovation: Scaling Proven Solutions for Better Health

Panelists:

  • Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance
  • Lisa French, CEO and Co-Founder, Field and Fork Network 
  • Chris Ford, Corporate Impact Principal, Face The Fight, USAA
5:00 PM - 5:10 PM
Closing Remarks
 
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Reception
 
Time Zone: (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]