GNYHA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Office Services and Special Events / GNYHA Management Corporation
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Health Equity Policy Analysis
Alejandra Diaz-Houston joined GNYHA's Center for Community Health, Diversity, and Health Equity in 2020. She is responsible for analyzing current and proposed health equity-related policy directives and supports member hospitals to implement health equity initiatives. Prior to joining GNYHA, Ms. Diaz-Houston worked for the New York State Department of Health in the Center for Health Care Policy and Resource Development. She earned her BA in the History of Science and Medicine from Yale University, a Business Certificate from Columbia University's School of Professional Studies, and an MPA from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Regulatory and Professional Affairs
Alison Burke joined GNYHA's Regulatory and Professional Affairs Department in 2004. Ms. Burke is responsible for behavioral health care issues, emergency management planning and response activities, pre-hospital care issues, and a variety of environmental issues affecting health care providers on local, New York State, and Federal levels. Before joining GNYHA, Ms. Burke worked for Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers. She earned a JD from Pace University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Ambulatory Care and Population Health
Alyssa Besser joined GNYHA's Government Affairs, Communications, and Public Policy Department in 2024. She is responsible for supporting numerous ambulatory care and population health initiatives, with a particular focus on ambulatory care transformation, delivery system reform, and social determinants of health. Before joining GNYHA, Ms. Besser worked with the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and in multiple ambulatory care clinical settings. She earned a BS in Human Biology and Society from UCLA and an MPH in Population and Family Health from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President & Special Assistant / GNYHA Management Corporation
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Andrew Dahl joined GNYHA's Legal, Regulatory, and Professional Affairs Department in 2022. He is responsible for emergency preparedness and response activities. Before joining GNYHA, Mr. Dahl worked in emergency management at NYU Langone Health and for the City of Philadelphia. He earned a BS in Public Health from Rutgers University and an MPA from New York University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Government Affairs
Andrew Title joined GNYHA in 2013. Mr. Title advocates on behalf of GNYHA member hospitals before New York State and New York City elected officials. Before joining GNYHA, Mr. Title worked as a magazine editor, legislative assistant, and English teacher. He earned a BA in International Relations from Tufts University and an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator for GNYHA 's Health Information Tool for Empowerment
- Project Coordinator, HITE / Center for GME
Anika Yusuf joined GNYHA in 2019. As Project Coordinator for GNYHA's Health Information Tool for Empowerment (HITE), she works on outreach, communications, and research for the online resource directory. Prior to joining GNYHA, she interned for various nonprofit health care organizations. Ms. Yusuf earned a BS in Health Science from LIU Brooklyn and an MBA from the George Washington University School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Human Resources / GNYHA Management Corporation
Brenda Wallace joined GNYHA's Human Resources Department in 2008. Ms. Wallace is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department for GNYHA and all of its subsidiaries, including employee relations, benefits administration, payroll preparation, and supervision of administrative support personnel. Before joining GNYHA, she worked for Translations.com. Ms. Wallace earned a BBA in Management-Human Resources from Pace University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Communications / Communications
Brian Conway joined GNYHA in 1999. Mr. Conway supervises GNYHA's Communications Department, which edits, designs, and produces all of GNYHA's print and digital materials, and coordinates special events. He is also GNYHA's media spokesperson and liaison for reporters seeking information about GNYHA and hospital and health care issues, and works closely with the principal public affairs executives at member hospitals. Before joining GNYHA, Mr. Conway worked for the American Geriatrics Society, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, and wrote for a daily newspaper in Connecticut. He earned a BA in English from the State University of New York at Oneonta and an MA in Public Communications from Fordham University.
Job Titles:
- Program Associate, HITE / Center for GME
Carolina Delgado joined GNYHA in 2018. As Program Associate for GNYHA's Health Information Tool for Empowerment (HITE), Ms. Delgado audits the vast resources and helps consumers navigate the website. Prior to joining GNYHA, she worked in the non-profit social service industry, including a position helping foster families place children with medical disabilities or other chronic illnesses into adoptive homes. Ms. Delgado earned a BA in Social Work from Nyack College Manhattan Center.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, GME and Health Workforce / Center for GME
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs / Government Affairs
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Health Economics / Finance
Dimitrios Tsaprounis joined GNYHA's Health Economics and Finance Department in 1997. Dr. Tsaprounis is responsible for quantitative, statistical, and econometric analyses. His work focuses on hospital cost and cost allocation analysis, fiscal impact and payment policy analysis, regional impact analysis, comparative outcomes research, performance measurement, efficiency analysis, market structure and competition, and GIS analysis. Before joining GNYHA, Dr. Tsaprounis taught Statistics, Econometrics, Health Economics, and Micro/Macro Economics at Hunter College, Queens College, NJIT, and Sarah Lawrence College. Dr. Tsaprounis received his PhD in Health Economics from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Survey Research
Job Titles:
- Director, Health Informatics / Finance
Edgard Claudio joined GNYHA's Health Economics, Finance, and Outcomes Research Department in 2012. Mr. Claudio is responsible for designing, coding, testing, and implementing applications where facilities can enter and view data through real-time reports. Mr. Claudio has developed applications and worked with process automation for 18 years. He has worked in different industries, including automobile, internet (e-commerce, media, digital agencies, advertising, content management systems), sales (pre-sales and post-sales), engineering, and health care. Mr. Claudio earned a BA in Computer Science from UNISANTA University in Brazil and his foreign degree was recognized and validated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Finance
Elisabeth Wynn joined GNYHA in 1999. She advocates on behalf of GNYHA members with the New York State Department of Health and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues and other health care financing programs. Ms. Wynn also oversees GNYHA's agenda on financial operations issues such as access to capital, financial assistance policies, revenue cycle, utilization management, and payer audits. Before joining GNYHA, she worked as a health care consultant for HCR Consulting, Inc. Ms. Wynn earned a BA in History from Middlebury College and an MPA from New York University's Wagner School.
Job Titles:
- Vice President & Controller / GNYHA Management Corporation
Elizabeth Barrett joined GNYHA's Corporate Finance and Accounting Department in 2002. Ms. Barrett is responsible for managing the corporate accounting and finance staff, including preparing financial statements, annual budgets, cash projections, and cash management. Before joining GNYHA, she worked for various industries, including consulting, venture capital, and internet start-ups. She also managed the initial public offering process for a public company. Ms. Barrett earned a BA in Accounting from St. Leo University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Regis University.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Health Equity Policy and Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President and Physician Executive, Quality and Clinical Initiatives / Quality and Clinical Initiatives
Erin DuPree, MD, joined GNYHA in 2023. Before joining GNYHA, Dr. DuPree was the Chief Medical Officer at The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare and The Mount Sinai Hospital. She is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and practiced for 14 years. She earned an MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and a BA in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Analyst, Health Economics and Finance
Francine Cai joined GNYHA's Health Economics and Finance team in 2023. She reviews New York State financial policies and analyzes managed long-term care finances. Before joining GNYHA, Ms. Cai worked in health education and as a pharmacy technician. She earned a BS in Physiology & Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Health Economics / Finance
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Survey and Outcomes Research / Finance
Jared Bosk joined GNYHA in 2013. He has managed survey research and data collection across various clinical and operational areas, including COVID-19 pandemic response, hospital-acquired infections, preventable readmissions, hospital safety culture, screening and treatment for depression and substance use disorders, and hospital-nursing facility partnerships. Before joining GNYHA, Mr. Bosk served as an advisor at New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the City's Human Resources Administration. He also worked at Harris Interactive and the Public Agenda Foundation, where he managed quantitative and qualitative research projects. Mr. Bosk earned a BA from Wesleyan University.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Continuing Care Member Relations / Finance
Jenifer Fergusson joined GNYHA in 1988. Ms. Fergusson served as the Board Liaison for the Continuing Care Leadership Coalition for over 25 years. She is responsible for new member recruitment and planning all member events including educational programs that ensure long-term care administrators have an avenue to receive continuing education credits. Ms. Fergusson has built longstanding relationships with members of the long-term care community.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Information Technology / GNYHA Management Corporation
Joel Yasuna has worked on multiple engagements during his professional career, ranging from small to mid-size and enterprise environments. Mr. Yasuna has more than 20 years of experience in a wide range of information technologies and in all aspects of the project lifecycle. He is responsible for providing high-level support, maintaining systems standards, diagnosing and repairing system functions and failures, as well as designing and implementing new technologies and infrastructure.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Jon Cooper joined GNYHA in 2011. Mr. Cooper is responsible for Federal legislative affairs. Before joining GNYHA, he was a health care consultant for Sachs Consulting. Prior to his consulting work, Mr. Cooper served as Legislative Counsel, and then Legislative Director for Senator Bill Nelson of Florida. Mr. Cooper also served as a Legislative Assistant, focusing on health care issues, for Representative Vic Snyder of Arkansas. While attending law school, Mr. Cooper was a Health Policy Fellow for Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Mr. Cooper earned a BA from Colgate University and a JD from American University's Washington College of Law.
Job Titles:
- Director, Health Finance and Reimbursement / Finance
Jordan Vaccarino joined GNYHA's Health Economics, Finance, and Outcomes Research team in 2016. Mrs. Vaccarino is responsible for conducting analyses on a variety of Federal and State health finance issues affecting GNYHA member hospitals. Prior to joining GNYHA, Mrs. Vaccarino earned an MPP from Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, where she also served as a graduate research intern at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. She also earned a BA in public policy from the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Director, Continuing Care Finance / Finance
Joseph Corwin joined GNYHA's Health Economics, Finance, and Outcomes Research team in April 2017. Mr. Corwin is responsible for conducting analyses on a variety of Federal and State health finance issues affecting member hospitals. Prior to joining GNYHA, Mr. Corwin worked as an equity analyst and consultant for Bloomberg LP. Mr. Corwin earned an MHA from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and a BA in Business Administration from Franklin and Marshall College.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Digital Communications
- Manager, Digital Communications / Communications
Karina Bayrakdarian joined GNYHA's Communications Department in 2022. She is responsible for managing the daily upkeep of the organization's website, coordinating online outreach campaigns, and creating content for GNYHA's Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages. Before joining GNYHA, Ms. Bayrakdarian worked for a tech start-up as a social media brand manager and video editor in Armenia. She earned a BA in Neuroscience and Cinema & Media Studies from Hamilton College.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Digital Communications & Design / Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Grants and Programs
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Kenneth E. Raske is President of Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), which represents more than 250 not‑for‑profit hospitals and continuing care facilities, both voluntary and public, in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. An expert on health care policy and finance, Mr. Raske plays a key role in shaping the health care delivery system and has helped guide GNYHA's hospital and continuing care members through dramatic changes in the health care marketplace.
Mr. Raske is a frequent lecturer and commentator on health care topics. Before becoming GNYHA's President in 1984, he held positions as Senior Vice President and Deputy Director at the Michigan Hospital Association, Study Director at the American Hospital Association, and Research Associate at the American Medical Association.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Communications / Communications
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Legal, Regulatory and Professional Affairs and General Counsel / GNYHA & GNYHA Management Corporation
Laura Alfredo joined GNYHA's Legal, Regulatory, and Professional Affairs Department in 2015. She leads GNYHA's legal, regulatory, and professional affairs division and serves as GNYHA's general counsel. Before joining GNYHA, Ms. Alfredo worked in private practice as a litigator and for two health care systems in New York City as in-house counsel. She earned a JD from Fordham University School of Law and a MA in Political Science from the New School.
Job Titles:
- Assistant to the President
Job Titles:
- Financial Officer
- President, GNYHA Management Corporation / Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative
Lee H. Perlman joined GNYHA in 1983. Mr. Perlman oversees GNYHA's corporate finance and administration, which includes his passion for growing and mentoring GNYHA's workforce. A leader in promoting diversity in health care leadership, Mr. Perlman founded the GNYHA Summer Enrichment Program, which has placed more than 300 diverse students in summer internships. Mr. Perlman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University and his Master's degree in Business Administration from the Sloan Program at Cornell University.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Lisa Fenger joined GNYHA in 2018 as part of the Continuing Care Leadership Coalition. She provides emergency preparedness education, training, and support to GNYHA's continuing care members. Prior to joining GNYHA, Ms. Fenger provided emergency preparedness training to residents in the Rockaways following Superstorm Sandy and emergency preparedness plan development training for nursing homes across New York City. She has responded to disasters on a volunteer basis since 2002 through a number of organizations. Ms. Fenger has a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Medical Librarianship from the University of Michigan, and a Master's degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from Metropolitan College of New York.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President & Executive Director, Center on Community Health Equity Policy and Services
Lloyd C. Bishop joined GNYHA in 2001. Mr. Bishop provides policy analysis and member support related to community benefit reporting, public health improvement, community health planning, health disparities, patients' rights, and diversity. Before joining GNYHA, he was a Legislative Assistant to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Director of Intergovernmental and Tribal Affairs at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Mr. Bishop was also Deputy Administrator for Legislative Relations at the New York City Human Resources Administration, worked for the New York State Assembly, and the former New York State Department of Social Services. He earned a BA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Health Finance and Revenue Cycle / Finance
Matthew Felton joined GNYHA's Health Finance team in 2015. Mr. Felton's primary responsibilities include helping members navigate areas of health care finance, accounts receivable management, Medicaid eligibility issues, and the Administrative Simplification transactions sets under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Mr. Felton has worked in revenue cycle for 17 years, directing different hospitals across the country. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, NUBC, and ASC X12, and has served on various work groups and committees with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services. Mr. Felton earned a BS in Finance from Florida State University and is expecting to earn an MA in Health Care Management from Saint Leo University in May 2018.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Assistant Director, Regulatory Affairs
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Emergency Preparedness
Nicole Ziogas joined GNYHA's Legal, Regulatory, and Professional Affairs Department in 2023. She is responsible for a broad range of emergency preparedness and response activities. Before joining GNYHA, Ms. Ziogas completed a year-long fellowship with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She earned a dual degree BA in Biology and Psychology from SUNY New Paltz and an MPH in Community Health from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Health Finance and Reimbursement / Finance
Orville Francis joined GNYHA's Health Finance and Reimbursement Department in 2004. Mr. Francis focuses on issues related to New York State's Medicaid inpatient and outpatient reimbursement systems, methodologies, and impacts on GNYHA member hospitals. He also works on New York State issues concerning disproportionate share hospital payments and State audits, hospital institutional cost reports, the electronic health record incentive program, and other State issues that have a financial impact on GNYHA members. Mr. Francis earned an MPA in Health Policy and Management from the New York University-Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Virtual Meetings and Special Events / GNYHA Management Corporation
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Health Finance and Reimbursement / Finance
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor, Government Affairs, Continuing Care
Job Titles:
- Vice President Finance
- Vice President, Health Finance and Reimbursement / Finance
Job Titles:
- Director, HITE / Center for GME