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The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) Foundation appoints seasoned health care executive Dr. Robert Lufrano and health and human rights advocate Dr. Nicole F. Roberts to its Board of Directors.
New York, NY –The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) Foundation has appointed renowned health care leaders Dr. Robert Lufrano, retired Chairman and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), and Dr. Nicole F. Roberts, Executive Director of Feed A Billion and Founder of Health & Human Rights Strategies, to its Board of Directors.
“We are honored to welcome two exceptional individuals known for their values-based commitment to public health,” said CUNY SPH Dean Ayman El-Mohandes. “Dr. Lufrano is a respected health care executive who improved the health and well-being for a community of nearly 4-million. Dr. Roberts is a bold nonprofit innovator advancing human rights through health for girls and all people around the world.”
“Dr. Lufrano and Dr. Roberts each bring tremendous expertise and energy to our goals of preparing the next generation of public health professionals and building a healthier and more equitable city,” said Lyndon Haviland, MPH, DrPH, CUNY SPH Foundation Board Chair.
The Foundation also announced that Gil Addo, CEO and Co-Founder of RubiconMD, a digital health platform, is renewing his Board service. Pam Wheeler, Lecturer in Sports Management at Columbia University, has concluded her board service.
“We are grateful to Gil and Pam for their extraordinary thought leadership and contributions in helping to steer our graduate school to new levels of financial and educational accomplishments during this pivotal year,” Dr. El-Mohandes said. “We are delighted that Gil will continue to serve and know that Pam will always be a cherished friend of the school.”
The two new Board members harken from key healthcare hubs outside New York. As Chairman and CEO of BCBSF, Dr. Lufrano improved the health and wellbeing of communities across Florida. Dr. Roberts runs international nonprofit Feed a Billion, which prevents exploitation by providing nutritious meals to girls in need, and founded health care and human rights-focused advising firm Health & Human Rights Strategies.
“Bob and Nicole each recognize the pivotal role of public health education in a post-pandemic renaissance in New York City,” said Adam M. Doyno, Executive Director of the CUNY SPH Foundation and CUNY SPH Director of Development. “We are immensely proud that they have chosen to share their perspectives and talents to benefit our students.”
“The school’s mission of social justice through public health is a powerful and urgent goal of our time,” Dr. Roberts said. “As an advocate of equitable health as the foundation to human rights, I am excited to be part of its growth and impact.”
“I have seen first-hand how financial support can change a person’s trajectory; and CUNY SPH Foundation’s leadership in funding both scholarships and groundbreaking programs will change the landscape for public health in New York,” Dr. Lufrano said.
Roberts is the host of The Global Good Podcast, which draws on her years of international work. Roberts also contributes to Forbes, contextualizing health and highlighting public health ideas, companies and people that are changing the global landscape. Her writing has appeared in numerous journals and publications, and her talks can be found on the United Nations website and various news and sports outlets. Roberts holds a doctorate in public health from the University of North Carolina, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Lufrano has had broad experience and responsibility in healthcare delivery, healthcare financing, physician and group practice management, behavioral health management, pharmacy benefits management, provider connectivity, worker’s compensation, National accounts, Department of Defense healthcare and board governance. He currently works with early-stage companies on strategy and business development. Dr. Lufrano received his doctorate from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, completed residency training in emergency medicine at UCLA and has an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
About CUNY SPH
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to teaching, research, and service that creates a healthier New York City and helps promote equitable, efficient, and evidence-based solutions to pressing health problems facing cities around the world. Located in Harlem, CUNY SPH is the top-ranked public school of public health in New York City, New York State, and the tristate region. https://sph.cuny.edu/
About the CUNY SPH Foundation
The CUNY SPH Foundation’s mission is to advance the achievement of CUNY SPH’s mission, vision, and values as New York City’s public school of public health through fundraising, building strategic partnerships, and providing services as a champion for the school’s students as they embark on public health careers and its faculty as they work to educate the next generation of public health professionals. https://sph.cuny.edu/about/people/foundation/
