Northwell Health

Michael Dowling provided inspired thought leadership throughout the pandemic as president and CEO of Northwell Health, one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems. He began his career as a faculty member at Fordham University as a professor and the assistant dean at the Graduate School of Social Services. In 1983, under Governor Mario Cuomo, he served as deputy secretary and director of Health, Education, and Human Services. He became executive vice president and COO of Northwell in 1997, and was named president and CEO in 2002. Born and raised in Knockaderry, County Limerick, Michael had to help support his family from an early age, inspiring him to push further and achieve his dreams. “No was never an option,” he says. “If you tell me I can’t do something, that’s when I become determined to get it done.” A University College Cork graduate, he was the first person in his family to attend college. Afterwards, he went to New York and earned a master’s from Fordham. Michael and his wife, Kathy, have two adult children, Brian and Elizabeth. In 2017, Michael served as the grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.