AGENCY TESTIMONY
Michael Espiritu's opening statement as NYC Health and Hospitals Board of Directors candidate
0:09:25
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152 sec
Michael Espiritu, a candidate for the NYC Health and Hospitals Board of Directors, delivers his opening statement to the City Council. He expresses gratitude for the nomination and shares his personal connection to H+H through his father's service and his own experience as a neonatal physician at Bellevue Hospital.
- Espiritu emphasizes his experience in neonatal perinatal medicine and his firsthand knowledge of delivering care to diverse New Yorkers.
- He outlines his guiding principles: putting patients at the center of all decisions and actions, and ensuring equity in access to quality healthcare for all New Yorkers.
- Espiritu expresses eagerness to further H+H's mission and assist the board in its work.
Michael Espiritu
0:09:25
Oh, there it is.
0:09:27
They do chair powers, honorable council members.
0:09:30
I am humbled and privileged to be considered for appointment to the board of New York City Health And Hospitals Corporation and to be able to be here before you today.
0:09:39
I thank council members, Martin, Batcher, chairs of the Manhattan delegation, and the other council members for this nomination.
0:09:47
As well as the council staff who have guided me through the steps leading up to this today.
0:09:53
As Council Martin mentioned, my father was an employee of HHS for many years alongside his private practice.
0:10:02
Serving for decades as a pediatric dentist in health clinics and school based clinics in the Bronx before his retirement.
0:10:10
And so I felt a bit of honor when I wore my own h and h badge as I practiced neonatal medicine at the NICU in Bellevue Hospital for nearly 8 years, and I feel quite honored now to be considered for the health and hospitals board.
0:10:26
My experience is as a practicing physician in the field of neonatal perinatal medicine.
0:10:31
And and I think my experience more than anything else.
0:10:36
And then I've experienced firsthand delivering care to the diverse population of New Yorkers who rely on health hospitals for quality.
0:10:45
Compassionate and culturally sensitive health care really informs my my approach to the work, my potential work on the board.
0:10:54
I know how essential health and hospitals is to the health and well-being of the city.
0:11:00
And its its inhabitants, and I'm eager for the opportunity to assist in furthering its vital and important mission.
0:11:09
My guiding principle as a practical seeing physician has always been to put the patient at the center of every everything, every decision, and action.
0:11:17
So if appointed, I believe, that just as it is my guiding principle at the bedside, it would be my guiding principle while working on the board together with my fellow board members, thinking first and foremost of how decisions would maximize benefit to all New Yorkers who come to come to and rely on health and hospitals for care.
0:11:39
In addition, I believe strongly in equity as a guiding principle, keeping in mind that all New Yorkers deserve to have access to the best quality health care.
0:11:49
So in closing, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the council for even being considered for appointment and I look forward to answering any questions that you may have.
0:11:57
Thank you.
