David B. Skinner, M.D.
GNYHA mourns the passing of our dear friend David B. Skinner, M.D., former Chief Executive Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and former dedicated Chairman of the GNYHA Board of Governors, who passed away at age 67 on January 24, 2003.

Dr. Skinner's contributions to the field of health care were enormous. Long a nationally renowned surgeon, in 1987 Dr. Skinner was named President and Chief Executive Officer of The New York Hospital. He quickly put together a leadership team and orchestrated a financial turnaround for the hospital at a time when many hospitals were struggling with large operating deficits. Dr. Skinner was also responsible for the construction of the hospital's Maurice R. and Corinne P. Greenberg Pavilion, an 850,000-square-foot building that opened in 1997, the same year he successfully oversaw the merger of The New York Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital. That year he was named Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Skinner also directed the building of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System, a network of primary, specialty, and long term care centers in the New York metropolitan area. Throughout this time, he also continued performing esophageal surgery. During his time on the GNYHA Board of Governors, the Association greatly benefited from his leadership and wise counsel.

A true visionary, Dr. Skinner will be remembered for being a pioneer in the development of hospital mergers and health care networks in New York, and for his deep commitment to improving the health care of all New Yorkers. GNYHA salutes his remarkable accomplishments and extends its deepest sympathies to his wife Ellie, his daughters Linda, Kristin, Carise, and Margaret, and his many friends and colleagues.