Brooklyn Hospital Appoints Interim President/CEO

A long-time trustee of Brooklyn Hospital Center (BHC) has been selected as its interim president and CEO, effective as of yesterday, Sunday, March 1.

Jonathan M. Weld takes over for Dr. Richard B. Becker, who is leaving to become CEO of New Found Health, a private “hospital and healthcare company affiliated with private equity firm Blue Wolf Capital Partners” — the firm that BHC worked with last year in an attempt to buy Long Island College Hospital (LICH).

In a statement to the Brooklyn Eagle, Weld — who also serves as president of St. Ann’s School and on boards at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Evergreens Cemetery — said he is “pleased to assume leadership, though for a short period, of this great institution.”

The search for Becker’s permanent replacement continues as candidates from across the country are considered.

A priority for whoever is chosen — as well as for Weld, during the transition period — will be to continue Becker’s campaign to double the size of the hospital’s ER, which has seen increased demand and wait-times — partially because of the influx of new residents to Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn, and Clinton Hill, and partially as a result of LICH’s closure.

Such an expansion would require a large cash infusion, some of which it has requested from the city and which several local elected officials have expressed support for. Councilmember Laurie Cumbo said in her State of the District speech on Sunday, March 1, that she will help advocate on behalf of BHC in City Council deliberations as to possible funding.

According to The Brooklyn Eagle, a hospital spokesperson said the ER renovation/expansion “will be a core responsibility of the incoming hospital CEO.”

“The ED has seen a slight increase in volume since LICH’s closure, but we’ve got the space to accommodate the increase,” he added.