VALHALLA – The man credited with transforming Westchester Medical Center into a major trauma center with a network of community hospitals has announced his plan to retire next year.
Michael Israel, who has been at the helm of the hospital network for almost 20 years, will step down from his post at the end of 2025.
The Westchester County Healthcare Corporation Board of Directors has initiated a nationwide search for a replacement.
“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 healthcare across the Hudson Valley,” Israel said. He did not elaborate in a news release what his future plans would be.
During his tenure, he steered a financial turnaround for Westchester Medical Center and grew it into a network of nine hospitals, nearly 1,800 beds across eight counties, with $3 billion in annual revenue and a total economic community impact of $896 million.
