Health Commissioner of New York City Set to Resign
Ashwin Vasan announced his resignation on Monday, stating that personal reasons motivated his decision to leave.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan submitted his resignation to City Hall on Monday morning, stating personal reasons as the cause for his departure.
Vasan, who is a trained epidemiologist and practicing primary care doctor, has led the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene since March 2022, having been appointed by Mayor Eric Adams.
“As anyone with a family — or a chosen family — knows, you are never alone in service,” Vasan remarked in a statement. “My wife and three young children have served alongside me, bearing the brunt of my absence and shouldering so much. I’m grateful for their love and have chosen that now it is time to support them and their wellbeing. While this was a hard decision, it was the right one for me and my family.”
During his tenure, the department launched Mayor Adams' three-pronged mental health agenda, which featured a free virtual therapy platform for high schoolers in New York City and an initiative aimed at extending the average lifespan of New Yorkers to over 83 years by 2030, known as HealthyNYC.
However, the department also faced challenges due to ongoing budget cuts enforced by the Adams administration, which has emphasized fiscal discipline. Compounding these issues, multiple federal investigations have questioned Adams' approach of maintaining focus without distractions.
Despite these setbacks, Vasan succeeded in obtaining additional city funding for the bureau of tuberculosis control amid reports of a rise in TB cases stressing the already short-staffed unit. The Adams administration also dedicated millions annually to implement HealthyNYC.
Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health and a prominent figure in national public health discussions, stated that Vasan’s HealthyNYC initiative has transformed the conversation around public health at the governmental level.
“He’s managed to change the terms of discourse around what a healthy population looks like in a very short period of time,” Ranney noted in an interview.
Prior to his role as health commissioner, Vasan led the mental health nonprofit Fountain House, which operates clubhouses for individuals facing serious mental illnesses, offering opportunities for socialization and resource connections. He also held the position of executive director of the health department’s health access equity unit, now known as the Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice-Involved Populations.
Vasan is expected to officially leave his position in January.
“I appreciate Dr. Vasan’s decision to stay on through early next year as we transition to a new commissioner, and we are confident that because of his hard work putting into place critical public health initiatives New York City is and will continue to be a safer and healthier place for a long time to come,” Adams said in a statement. “I hope all New Yorkers join me in thanking Dr. Vasan and his entire family for their service.”
The health department has around 7,000 employees and operates with an annual budget of $2.2 billion, approximately half of which comes from city funding.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Vasan, who is a trained epidemiologist and practicing primary care doctor, has led the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene since March 2022, having been appointed by Mayor Eric Adams.
“As anyone with a family — or a chosen family — knows, you are never alone in service,” Vasan remarked in a statement. “My wife and three young children have served alongside me, bearing the brunt of my absence and shouldering so much. I’m grateful for their love and have chosen that now it is time to support them and their wellbeing. While this was a hard decision, it was the right one for me and my family.”
During his tenure, the department launched Mayor Adams' three-pronged mental health agenda, which featured a free virtual therapy platform for high schoolers in New York City and an initiative aimed at extending the average lifespan of New Yorkers to over 83 years by 2030, known as HealthyNYC.
However, the department also faced challenges due to ongoing budget cuts enforced by the Adams administration, which has emphasized fiscal discipline. Compounding these issues, multiple federal investigations have questioned Adams' approach of maintaining focus without distractions.
Despite these setbacks, Vasan succeeded in obtaining additional city funding for the bureau of tuberculosis control amid reports of a rise in TB cases stressing the already short-staffed unit. The Adams administration also dedicated millions annually to implement HealthyNYC.
Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health and a prominent figure in national public health discussions, stated that Vasan’s HealthyNYC initiative has transformed the conversation around public health at the governmental level.
“He’s managed to change the terms of discourse around what a healthy population looks like in a very short period of time,” Ranney noted in an interview.
Prior to his role as health commissioner, Vasan led the mental health nonprofit Fountain House, which operates clubhouses for individuals facing serious mental illnesses, offering opportunities for socialization and resource connections. He also held the position of executive director of the health department’s health access equity unit, now known as the Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice-Involved Populations.
Vasan is expected to officially leave his position in January.
“I appreciate Dr. Vasan’s decision to stay on through early next year as we transition to a new commissioner, and we are confident that because of his hard work putting into place critical public health initiatives New York City is and will continue to be a safer and healthier place for a long time to come,” Adams said in a statement. “I hope all New Yorkers join me in thanking Dr. Vasan and his entire family for their service.”
The health department has around 7,000 employees and operates with an annual budget of $2.2 billion, approximately half of which comes from city funding.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
