Northwell Health announced that longtime president and CEO Michael J. Dowling will step down on Oct. 1, 2025, after more than two decades leading New York’s largest not-for-profit health system.

He will assume the role of CEO emeritus and continue to support public health initiatives, academic efforts, and policy advocacy.

Dowling has led Northwell since its formation in the 1990s, overseeing its growth from a regional hospital network into a 28-hospital system serving New York and Connecticut. The health system now includes over 1,000 care locations, employs 104,000 people, and affiliates with more than 14,000 physicians. He is credited with expanding Northwell’s research and education capabilities, including advancing bioelectronic medicine and supporting new training institutions such as the Zucker School of Medicine and the Hofstra-Northwell School of Nursing.
Dowling has also been vocal on public health issues, notably advocating for gun violence prevention. In 2022, Modern Healthcare ranked him as the most influential figure in healthcare.

Northwell’s board unanimously approved John D’Angelo, M.D., to succeed Dowling. D’Angelo currently serves as executive vice president of Northwell’s central region, which includes six hospitals and over 270 ambulatory sites, serving nearly 3 million residents.

“It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead Northwell through a period of unprecedented growth and clinical transformation,” Dowling said in a statement. “In Dr. D’Angelo, the board of trustees has selected a tremendous leader who will lead Northwell to greater heights.”

D’Angelo joined Northwell more than 25 years ago as an emergency medicine physician. He later led the emergency medicine service line and played a key role in the system’s operational response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected,” said D’Angelo. “I am committed to build on [Dowling’s] unparalleled legacy and vision.”

Northwell is based in New Hyde Park, New York.

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