Board of Directors

Cristina S. Contreras (LMSW, MPA, FABC), Immediate Past Chair

NYCHealth+Hospitals/Lincoln Chief Executive Officer

LinkedIn

Cristina S. Contreras is a nationally recognized healthcare executive, equity advocate, and cultural leader serving as Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, a premier Level 1 Trauma Center and one of the busiest emergency departments in the country. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Cristina brings nearly 30 years of transformative leadership in the nation’s largest public healthcare system.

Her career spans frontline social work to executive hospital leadership, marked by a relentless commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities, especially for immigrants, seniors, and people of color. At Lincoln, she leads complex clinical, ambulatory, and community health operations serving the South Bronx—one of the most diverse and economically challenged districts in the U.S.

Cristina is known for embedding culturally competent care and public health innovation into institutional strategy. She has championed initiatives that integrate healthcare with housing, education, and economic opportunity, and is widely respected for building bridges across sectors to address social determinants of health.

She holds degrees from Lehman College (BSW), Fordham University (MSW), and Baruch College (MPA), and has been honored with numerous awards, including the Government Service Leadership Award, Healthcare Hero by Schneps Media, and inclusion in City & State’s Power 100. Beyond healthcare, Cristina serves as Chair of the National Dominican Day Parade, amplifying the voices and legacy of Dominican and Latino communities across the U.S.

Cristina Contreras is not only shaping the future of public health in New York City—she is building a lasting legacy of leadership, equity, and cultural pride.