NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Hosts Inaugural Gala to Commemorate 150-Year Legacy of Providing Care to New Yorkers

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Hosts Inaugural Gala to Commemorate 150-Year Legacy of Providing Care to New Yorkers

Founded in 1875, Metropolitan Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in New York City and in New York State

The inaugural gala also honors Metropolitan Hospital's historic partnership with New York Medical College, representing the nation's oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation

Oct 15, 2025

On September 18, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan hosted its inaugural gala commemorating 150 years of providing care to New Yorkers. Founded in 1875, Metropolitan Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in New York City and in New York State. The inaugural gala also honored Metropolitan Hospital's historic partnership with New York Medical College, a partnership that represents the nation's oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation.

From its beginnings on Wards Island, to its time on Roosevelt Island, and now in East Harlem, Metropolitan Hospital has shifted with the city's landscape while staying true to its mission. Across eras and neighborhood evolutions, the hospital has upheld a singular promise: to provide care for all, no exceptions.

Metropolitan Hospital's story is intertwined with defining moments of modern history. Enduring two world wars, waves of immigration, epidemics, pandemics, and revolutions in medical science and technology. Through it all, the hospital has emerged stronger-transforming hardship into innovation and resilience into enduring excellence.

This inaugural gala supports the hospital's continuation on the path of excellence by helping raise critical funds to enhance patient care, expand programs, and invest in essential equipment that supports the future of Metropolitan Hospital and the communities it serves.

"For 150 years, Metropolitan Hospital has been a pillar of resilience, compassion, and excellence for New Yorkers," said Julian S. John, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. "Our inaugural gala is more than a celebration of history-it is a confirmation of who we are and what we stand for. From our beginnings on Wards Island to our home in East Harlem, we have never wavered in our legacy to care for all. Our inaugural gala honors that legacy, paying tribute to the people and organizations who shaped us and helping us raise critical funds to support the health of the communities we proudly serve."

"NYC Health + Hospitals was proud to celebrate Metropolitan Hospital's remarkable 150-year history of service to New Yorkers," said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. "Metropolitan Hospital's legacy is one of innovative, compassionate, and inclusive care. As we gathered at this inaugural gala, we reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that all New Yorkers receive the highest quality of care, no exceptions."

"New York Medical College (NYMC) faculty were the founding physicians of Metropolitan Hospital in 1875," said Edward C. Halperin, MD, MA, Chancellor and CEO of NYMC and a cancer specialist on Metropolitan Hospital's medical staff. "For 150 years, our students and educators have proudly walked its halls. Together, we've trained generations of medical students-many of whom were once turned away elsewhere because of their gender, race, or religion. In partnership with Metropolitan, we have cared for all New Yorkers and upheld the dignity and agency that every patient rightfully deserves."

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MEDIA CONTACT: Dominique Chapin, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/MetropolitanNYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is a 338-bed facility serving East Harlem and surrounding communities. Known historically as the primary health care provider in El Barrio, Metropolitan Hospital delivers high-quality, compassionate care to over 350,000 clinic patients and more than 50,000 emergency room visitors annually. The hospital is a designated Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Center of Excellence and a recognized "Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality" by the Human Rights Campaign. Since 2021, the hospital has been ranked #1 in New York State for health equity and inclusivity across all categories by the Lown Institute. Metropolitan Hospital has earned numerous honors, including the AORN, Beacon, Lantern, and Pathway to Excellence with Distinction awards, a Leapfrog "A" Grade for patient safety, and national recognition in U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals list. With a legacy spanning 150 years, Metropolitan Hospital maintains the nation's oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation through its longstanding partnership with New York Medical College. For more information, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan.

About NYC Health + HospitalsNYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.