Richard Daines

Richard F. Daines, M.D.
Commissioner
New York State Department of Health

Richard F. Daines, M.D., was confirmed as the 14th Commissioner of Health for New York State in March of 2007.

As Commissioner, Dr. Daines heads one of the nation’s leading public health agencies with a budget of approximately $49 billion. Under his leadership, the Department of Health administers the state’s public health insurance programs, regulates hospitals and other health care facilities, conducts research in a premier biomedical laboratory, and supports public health prevention initiatives. During the past year he helped shape significant health care reforms that were adopted in the state budget, including increased access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured, greater emphasis on primary and preventive care, quality improvement initiatives, and investment in health information technology. Dr. Daines led the implementation of health care facility restructuring measures mandated by the State Legislature in connection with the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century. He is currently leading an effort to reform health care through more effective local health care planning.

Prior to becoming Commissioner, Dr. Daines was the President and CEO of  St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center from January 1, 2002 until January 2007. Previous to joining the Hospital Center as Medical Director in 2000, Dr. Daines served as Senior Vice President for Professional Affairs and Medical Director at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

Dr. Daines received a Bachelor of History degree from Utah State University in 1974 and served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bolivia from 1970 to 1972. He received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1978. He served a residency in internal medicine at New York Hospital and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.