Michael Dowling is the CEO of North Shore LIJ Health System and was a 2013 Irish America Business 100 keynote speaker. Michael 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. When Cuomo left office in 1995, Michael signed on as senior vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield, later taking up the post of SVP at the Hospital Services at North Shore LIJ Health System. He became executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1997, and was named president and CEO in 2002.

Born and raised in Knockaderry, Co. Limerick Michael is the eldest of five children. He had to help support his family from an early age, inspiring him to push further and achieve his dreams. “No” was never an option for Michael as he makes clear: “if you tell me I can’t do something, that’s when I become determined to get it done.” This very Irish mindset propelled him to success, becoming the first person in his family to attend college, graduating University College Cork while working odd jobs to pay for tuition. After graduation he went to New York and earned a master’s degree from Fordham University. Michael and his wife Kathy live on Long Island with their two children, Brian and Elizabeth.