Rosa M. Gil

Dr.  Rosa M. Gil

Dr. Rosa M. Gil is the founder, president and CEO of Comunilife, Inc., a health and human services agency founded in 1989 to improve the quality of life and create a healthier tomorrow for New Yorkers with special needs in the Hispanic and broader community—by providing culturally competent health and human services and a continuum of affordable and supportive housing for homeless persons. Comunilife has been recognized for developing Community-Defined Best Practices for Latinos.

She has had a distinguished career in the fields of health, mental health, social services and higher education. Dr. Gil served as a mayor’s health policy advisor. She is the former chairperson of the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation, executive director of Woodhull Medical Center and Metropolitan Hospital, senior vice president of Generation and Northern Manhattan Health Network; senior vice president Mental Hygiene Services at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation and executive deputy commissioner for Families and Children Services at the NYC Human Resources Administration. Dr. Gil is the former University Dean for Health Sciences at the City University of New York.

Some of her accomplishments include prevention and wellness initiatives; expansion of primary care; implementation of Medicaid managed care in New York City; increased access to health insurance; creation a continuum of supportive housing for seniors, persons living with HIV/AIDS and mental illness; creation of NYC’s first Medical Respite Housing Program and the nationally recognized Life is Precious™ Program for Latina teens at-risk of suicide.

Dr. Gil has been appointed to numerous boards including the NYC Mayor's Commission on Health Care for our Neighborhoods, NYS Suicide Prevention Council, The Board of Health (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), NYC Community Services Board (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), NYC Mayor’s Supportive Housing Task Force, NYS Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. Dr. Gil is a member of the President Carter Mental Health Task Force and the Board of Trustees of EmblemHealth. Previously, she also served as a member of the Commission of Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century (The Berger Commission), and The Minority Women Panel on Health Experts (U.S. Public Health Services).

Dr. Gil has published numerous articles on mental health, ethnicity, and child welfare and gender issues.  She is the co-author of the "Maria Paradox," the first authoritative book on self-esteem and Hispanic women.

January 2019
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