The former NYC Health Commissioner and former CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, respectively, join the national nonprofit’s Board of Directors
New York, NY – Thursday, January 21, 2021 – After closing out 2020 with the incredible donation of $50 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, Undue Medical Debt (RIP) has more good news to share in the form of Dr. Oxiris Barbot and Dr. Ramanathan (Ram) Raju joining the charity’s board of directors.
Undue is a 501(c)(3) that uses donated funds to purchase portfolios of bundled medical debt directly from hospitals, doctors and from the secondary debt market. It buys accounts for those most in need and least able to pay and then forgives them – reporting the debts as paid-in-full. To date Undue has helped over two million families by putting over $3 billion of medical debt to rest.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the board of this impactful and mission-driven nonprofit,” says Dr. Barbot. “Emerging research shows that medical debt is a social determinant of health which can not only prevent people from seeking out further healthcare but can also increase stress and affect someone’s mental wellbeing. As the former NYC Health Commissioner and a pediatrician who started my career treating underserved communities in D.C. I know how important it is to increase access to care.”
“Whether during my tenure as president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals or my more recent role as community health investment officer for Northwell Health (New York State’s largest nonprofit healthcare provider) I’ve spent my career advocating for social and health equity,” shares Dr. Raju. “RIP’s innovative ability to disrupt the often destructive cycle of medical debt collection helps this nation’s most burdened families and I’m thrilled to join its board.”
Dr. Oxiris Barbot is a physician, public health practitioner and innovative leader at the intersection of public health and healthcare delivery. Her commitment to social justice is the common thread through her career in advocating for health equity, children’s well-being and community health. She is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Senior Fellow for Public Health and Social Justice at The JPB Foundation.
Dr. Ram Raju, MD, combines his executive leadership experience in healthcare with a deep commitment to achieving social equity to improve the health of communities in need. As senior vice president and community health investment officer at Northwell Health he evaluated the needs of Northwell’s most-vulnerable communities, and provided solutions for them by collaborating with community-based organizations. He was responsible for promoting, sustaining and advancing an environment that supports equity and diversity, and helping the health system eliminate health disparities.
Both have impressive healthcare policy backgrounds and will bring experienced insight related to hospitals, racial dynamics impacting healthcare and population health to Undue ’s board and larger mission. Both will be joining the public policy and marketing board committee. Dr. Raju will also be joining the debt abolishment oversight committee.
Dr. Oxiris and Dr. Raju are available for interview.
