Lenox Hill Hospital Names New Executive Director

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Lenox Hill Hospital has named a new executive director as the 450-bed medical center embarks on its second century on the Upper East Side.

Dr. Mark Schiffer, a cardiologist who started at Lenox Hill in the 1970s, is taking over the top job, where he is charged with setting a standard of patient care and overseeing day-to-day hospital operations, as well as guiding the hospital's strategic direction.

Schiffer takes the reins at a hospital now in the midst of a contentious expansion battle. Owner Northwell Health has pushed since 2019 to redevelop its home between East 76th and 77th streets, facing stiff opposition from neighbors even after it scrapped a controversial 490-foot tower.

The expansion plan is set to be discussed again Thursday at Community Board 8's zoning and development committee meeting.

Meanwhile, last week, Lenox Hill was named one of the nation's 250 best hospitals in an annual ranking by Healthgrades — the only New York City hospital to crack the top 100.

In a news release, Lenox Hill described Schiffer as an "accomplished physician with a special interest in preventative cardiology." He most recently was a senior vice president for Northwell's Western Region, overseeing clinical strategy and the patient experience in Manhattan, Staten Island and Westchester County.

A graduate of Northwestern University and its medical school, Schiffer first began at Lenox Hill as a medical resident, later staying at the hospital for a cardiology fellowship.

He became director of the Cardiac Care Unit in 1983, eventually becoming vice-chair of cardiovascular medicine and vice president for physician and community relations. He keeps an active cardiology practice in Manhattan.