Michael Dowling transitions to CEO Emeritus role

Northwell Health, the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast today announced that John D’Angelo, MD, has assumed the role of president and CEO. Dr. D’Angelo succeeds Michael J. Dowling, who held the position for 23 years and now transitions to CEO Emeritus. Mr. Dowling will continue to serve Northwell in an advisory capacity, supporting key public health initiatives and focusing on teaching and writing.

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John D’Angelo, MD, takes the helm of Northwell Health as its new president and CEO. (Credit: Lee Weissman/Northwell Health).

Dr. D’Angelo’s Northwell career spans more than 25 years. He most recently served as executive vice president of the health system’s central region, having begun as an emergency medicine physician at Glen Cove Hospital and progressing through various clinical and administrative leadership roles. He played a key role in Northwell’s operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as Chief of Integrated Operations to streamline system operations during and after the pandemic. As executive vice president of the central region, Dr. D’Angelo oversaw a network of six hospitals, more than 270 ambulatory practice locations, and 24,000 employees, serving a population of 2.8 million in western Nassau County and Queens. He previously served as senior vice president of Emergency Medicine, managing 18 emergency departments and more than 60 urgent care centers.

“I’m honored to lead Northwell into an era of innovating for better health for all, where exceptional care, empowered employees, and thriving communities are the standard,” said Dr. D’Angelo. “Building on Michael Dowling's remarkable legacy, our 104,000-person team is committed to raising health for the communities we serve.”

In his first few months as CEO, Dr. D’Angelo will conduct an extensive listening tour across the health system, gathering insight from team members, leaders, and community partners. His immediate strategic priorities focus on driving Northwell's continued growth and strengthening its position as a leader in healthcare, solidifying the Nuvance Health merger, while advancing Northwell's digital transformation efforts, particularly the implementation of Epic. Northwell and Nuvance recently formed a new integrated regional health system that will enhance care for communities across greater New York and Connecticut, serving a population of more than 13 million. Northwell is currently undergoing a digital transformation with the implementation of Epic, a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system. This implementation is one of the largest in Epic’s history and will unify Northwell’s diverse EHRs into a single, integrated platform, streamlining workflows, reducing administrative burden and improving patient care.

Recognizing the critical importance of Northwell's workforce, Dr. D'Angelo will actively engage with frontline physicians, nurses, and other team members to foster a culture of collaboration and wellness. Building on his role as Chief of Integrated Operations, he will lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable growth and build relationships with regulators, industry peers, and community stakeholders, centered on patient access, accretive growth strategies, and the expansion of ambulatory care services.

After an extensive nationwide search, and confirmed in a unanimous vote in April 2025, Northwell’s Board of Trustees appointed Dr. D’Angelo.

“Dr. D’Angelo brings strategic vision, an unwavering commitment to patients, and a deep understanding of the healthcare industry to the role of president and CEO,” said Northwell Board Chair Margaret Crotty. “He is a committed physician, respected leader and a trusted mentor at Northwell, and has the board's enthusiastic confidence to lead us into the future.”

About Northwell Health

Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 104,000 employees – including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners and Nuvance Health Medical Practices – who are working to change health care for the better. Northwell is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Northwell is training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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