GNYHA’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Reception, held on May 29 at the Javits Center in Manhattan, celebrated the GNYHA membership and highlighted the historic challenges facing New York’s health care system.
GNYHA President Kenneth E. Raske’s opening remarks paid special tribute to the Honorable Charles B. Rangel, who died last week. The former New York Congressman and House Ways and Means Committee Chair served 23 terms before retiring from elected office and joining GNYHA’s Board of Governors. Mr. Raske told the meeting’s 1,000+ attendees from across GNYHA’s membership that Mr. Rangel’s “wise counsel epitomized the convergence of social responsibility, moral clarity, and faith-based advocacy with the values of the hospital community and our patient care initiatives.”
GNYHA President Kenneth E. Raske thanked Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, Catholic Health President & Chief Executive Officer, for his service as GNYHA Board Chair.
Outgoing GNYHA Board Chair Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, Catholic Health President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), thanked the Board and GNYHA for their support. He said that the past year has presented some of “the greatest challenges we have ever faced,” but that “GNYHA has worked tirelessly” to protect the region’s health care system.
Mr. Raske presented Dr. O’Shaughnessy with a plaque extolling him for his service during yet another challenging year for the health care community.
Incoming GNYHA Board Chair Donald Boyd, Kaleida Health President and CEO, thanked Dr. O’Shaughnessy for his leadership, saying, “I am thrilled to assume the role as the next chair of GNYHA.” He added, “When I think about the team that Ken Raske and Lee Perlman (President, GNYHA Management Corporation) have assembled, New York’s health care community has no finer resource.”
During the event’s Annual Business Meeting, the 2025-26 GNYHA Board of Governors was duly elected and installed.
Ken Raske gives his annual address on the state of health care in New York.
Mr. Raske’s annual address recalled the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the health care community got through it “with grit, strength, and ingenuity.” He and several of GNYHA’s senior management team then highlighted some of the many huge challenges facing the hospital community, including the potential impact of reduced Federal funding on New York, its hospitals, and the recently enacted State budget. Also highlighted were GNYHA’s advocacy efforts to protect Medicaid funding on both the State and Federal levels, including campaigns by the Healthcare Education Project (HEP), a joint collaborative between GNYHA and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and the American Hospital Association’s Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare.
“What will it take to get us through” these immense challenges? Mr. Raske asked. “Grit, strength, and ingenuity. Together, we will prevail.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered the keynote address on challenges facing the health care industry.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered the keynote address, which summarized the many challenges ahead, noting that, “Nobody is fighting harder than Ken for this industry, and we should thank our lucky stars to have him.” He also thanked Mr. Perlman, “the other pillar holding up this great organization,” and praised him for his ability to “come up with brilliantly clever solutions” to numerous industry challenges.”
At the conclusion, Mr. Raske presented Leader Schumer with GNYHA’s Award of Merit.
A networking reception followed the Annual Business Meeting.