NYC REACH

Partnerships to advance primary care quality and equity

ABOUT US

Primary Care is foundational to achieving health equity. NYC REACH advances primary care through
support and innovation at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

NYC REACH partners with providers and organizations to:

Implement innovative and patient-centered strategies for chronic disease prevention & management

Optimize digital technology and electronic health record interoperability for efficiency

Create clinical and community linkages to address social determinants of health

Integrate behavioral health in addressing physical health

Align with payment reform for sustainability and fiscal strength

Build healthcare worker capacity and promote team-based approaches

Inform policy changes and translate to practical application

Advance NYC Health Department Chief Medical Officer’s anti-racism commitment

NYC REACH is operated by the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems (BEHS) whose goal is to apply policy, evidence, and practical expertise to improve equity in health care delivery at the individual, organizational, and systems levels. BEHS is a bureau of the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness division. NYC REACH was originally created in 2010 to serve as the city’s regional extension center for health information technology (HIT) and support clinical settings in adopting and using electronic health records (EHRs) for population health.

NYC REACH is a free membership organization, primarily funded by state and federal contracts and grants. Staff are trained and experienced practice facilitators who provide direct technical assistance to providers and organizations. NYC REACH is guided by an advisory council of physicians from a variety of healthcare institutions across New York City.

MEET OUR TEAM

Duncan Maru, MD, PhD

Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Equitable Health Systems

Duncan Maru, MD, PhD, serves as the Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems (BEHS) in the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness (CHECW). BEHS works with primary care providers, hospitals, payors, and other healthcare systems to address structural racism and implement evidence-based strategies. Dr. Maru is an epidemiologist and physician trained in internal medicine and pediatrics and an Associate Professor in the Department of Global Health at Mount Sinai. He also continues to teach and practice clinically at NYC Health + Hospitals / Elmhurst Hospital Center.

Janice Magno, MPA

Executive Director, Community Healthcare Strategic Partnerships

Janice Magno serves as the Executive Director of Community Healthcare Strategic Partnerships for the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems. She leads a portfolio of practice transformation initiatives aimed at strengthening the primary care delivery system. She manages a team that provides technical assistance to practices in medical home transformation and preparation for value-based payment. She also oversees BEHS’ collaboration with payers, accountable care organizations, qualified entities, government agencies, and other partners. Janice received her MPA in health policy and management from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Ernesto Fana, MPA

Executive Director, Community Healthcare Support

Ernesto Fana serves as the Executive Director of Community Healthcare Support at the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems. He oversees efforts to engage and support community providers with their quality improvement goals. His team provides technical assistance with electronic health record optimization and facilitates changes to patient care workflows, using small, rapid cycles of change to achieve clear objectives. Ernesto’s team also works with over 400 select practices on targeted quality improvement initiatives that focus on diabetes, hypertension, and smoking cessation. He received his MPA in Public Affairs and Administration from Metropolitan College of New York.

Samantha De Leon, PHD

Executive Director, Program Evaluation and Planning

Samantha De Leon serves as the Executive Director of Program Evaluation and Planning at the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems. She is responsible for managing the Evaluation, Research and Analytics team that conducts program evaluation and research on the impact of health information technology, quality improvement incentives and activities on patient quality of care in the primary care setting across New York City. Samantha and her team use a variety of data sources including electronic health records data, Medicaid and ambulatory clearinghouse claims, surveys, and primary data collected through various program initiatives. She received her PhD in epidemiology/environmental medicine from New York University School of Medicine.

Emily Carroll, MPH

Director, Communications and External Relations

Emily Carroll serves as the Assistant Director of Communications and External Relations for the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems. Her team specializes in creating and disseminating content, hosting events and trainings, and outreach to clinicians who are eligible to join quality improvement and value-based payment programs. She is responsible for developing strategic communications, outreach, and engagement plans to meet programmatic goals. Emily received her MPH in health policy and management at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy.

Matt Gannon

Director, Community Healthcare Strategic Partnerships

Matt Gannon serves as Assistant Director of Community Healthcare Strategic Partnerships for the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems. His team works directly with providers, health centers, and hospital sites on medical home transformation, Health IT optimization, and value-based payment programs. Matt’s team supports over 200 primary care sites to make strategic enhancements to improve care coordination, increase patient satisfaction, and take a data-driven approach to performance improvement. Matt holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Vita Tambone, MPH

Senior Manager, Diabetes Education and Support

Vita Tambone serves as the Senior Manager of Diabetes Education and Support for the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems. Vita and her team work to increase access to diabetes and chronic disease self-management and prevention programs through direct patient care and clinical partner capacity building initiatives. She completed her dietetic internship through Montclair State University and received her MPH in social and behavioral sciences from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

IMPACT

Since its inception in 2010, NYC REACH has strived to help providers fully utilize Health Information Technology. Through 2019, 26,000 providers in New York City have joined NYC REACH. NYC REACH has helped community health centers, foster care agencies, hospitals, and small practices receive over $465 million in incentive payments paid through multiple initiatives.

1800

Primary care practices

Patients served by NYC REACH
member organizations

100

Community Health Centers and Community-Based Organizations

250

Pharmacies

The dots on this map represents the distribution of NYC REACH members across the five boroughs. The grey-shaded neighborhoods are part of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity (TRIE). These neighborhoods were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the taskforce designation allows the neighborhoods to be prioritized for assistance. NYC REACH supports the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s goals for health equity by partnering with organizations in impacted neighborhoods.

CERTIFICATIONS

Partner in Quality for Patient-Centered Medical Home certification

Diabetes Education Accreditation Program for diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES)

Patient-Centered Medical Home Certified Content Experts

Membership

Interested in joining our network? Joining is easy!

NYC REACH membership is free to all New York City providers and practices.

CAREERS

Join a team that encourages creativity and collaboration! We’re looking for talented individuals who are passionate about improving the health of New Yorkers. Through BEHS’ partnership with the Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC), a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to implement and advance public health initiatives, we have exciting opportunities available. To find out about BEHS positions at FPHNYC, please visit http://www.fphnyc.org/get-involved/joinourteam/ and review the positions listed under “Equitable Health Systems.”

PHYSICIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Physician Advisory Council is a group of providers who provide input on the Bureau of Equitable Health System’s many projects, programs, and services. The council consists of members representing small and large practices all throughout New York City and assists BEHS with understanding the healthcare landscape of the City.

Robert Adler

Segulah Pediatrics

Ruchi Agarwal

Well Care OB/GYN

Rita Ahuja

Perry Ave Family Medical

Jose Aristy

Jose D. Aristy MD PC

Qudsia Banu

Brookdale Family Care Center Eastern Parkway

Marie Belotte

Cross County Medical Care PC

Avi Bitton

M. Avi Bitton MD PC

Terry Blackett-Bonnett

T. Bonnett Medical Services PC

Bina Chaudhari-Mody

Bina Chaudhari-Mody MD PC

Lisa Eng

New Life Medical Esthetics and Wellness

Ahmed Haider

Preferred Medical Care NY PC

Patricia Hart

Patricia M. Hart MD

Mohamed Helal

Global Medical Care PC

Gabriela Henriquez

Kidney Medical Associates

Margaret Kearns-Stanley

Margaret Kearns-Stanley MD PLLC

Hylton Lightman

Total Family Care

Bing Lu

Universal Medical Service LLC

Frank Maselli

Riverdale Family Practice

George McMillan

Choices Women’s Medical Center

Robert Morrow

Robert W. Morrow MD PC

Eliza Ng

CAIPA

Christiana Nichols

Nichols Pediatrics

Kevin Norowitz

Integrated Medical Health

Regina Olasin

Care for the Homeless

Maxine Orris

Wyckoff Doctors

Tosan Oruwariye

Tiga Pediatrics

Iffat Sadique

Prime Care Medical Group PC

Ruma Sanyal

Queens Medical Services PC

Saulius Skeivys

Saulius J. Skeivys MD PC

Jeffrey Teitelbaum

Jeffrey L. Teitelbaum MD PC

Gerald Weber

Murray Hill Podiatric Associates

San San Wynn

San San Wynn MD PC