Prior to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and more than a decade before the Metropolitan Museum of Art moved into its iconic home on Fifth Avenue, Lenox Hill Hospital was built as a pillar of care on the Upper East Side. Over the generations since, our hospital has become an essential part of the community, a trusted presence in life’s most critical moments. Every day, we get the privilege to see the resilience and strength of our neighbors, whether it’s a first-time mother holding her newborn, a grandfather receiving life-saving care, or a patient recovering from surgery with the support of loved ones.
Now, we have a profound responsibility – and that is to ensure that this institution, which has cared for New Yorkers since the 1860s, remains available for all people in need of care for the next 160 years.
Northwell Health’s updated proposal to modernize Lenox Hill Hospital represents an investment in the city’s future – one that will enhance our ability to continue to deliver the exceptional care we provide to over 150,000 patients from 240 different zip codes across our city and for generations to come. This renewal, an investment currently estimated to be more than $2 billion, isn’t just about updating buildings; it’s about reimagining health care delivery for the 21st century and beyond.
The heart of this transformation focuses on what matters most: our patients and their families. This vision of a future Lenox Hill Hospital includes an expanded, state-of-the-art Emergency Department designed to provide faster, more comfortable care during critical moments. We’re creating advanced operating rooms equipped with the latest medical technologies, ensuring that every patient who walks through our doors has access to cutting-edge procedures.
By transitioning to modern, single-bedded rooms for all patients regardless of income, we’re prioritizing patient dignity, comfort and recovery. Our new dedicated mother-baby hospital will set new standards for maternal care, giving more families the joyful, safe birthing experience they deserve.
Our vision for Lenox Hill Hospital’s future has been shaped by years of meaningful dialogue with our community. Since 2019, we’ve engaged in countless conversations with patients, neighbors, community leaders and health care professionals – each bringing valuable perspectives to help us craft a better tomorrow.
This collaborative spirit has made our proposal stronger. Working closely with our community, we’ve refined our plans to significantly reduce construction impact on our neighbors while maintaining our commitment to excellence in patient care. Our updated design reflects this balance, featuring a more modest height and a significantly reduced construction timeline. These improvements demonstrate how meaningful community engagement can enhance
ambitious health care initiatives while respecting the character of the neighborhood, which we’ve proudly been a part of since the early chapters of its history.
Many of our patients and staff live here, and our 5,500 employees frequent the same coffee shops and restaurants as our neighbors. The hospital community is deeply woven into the fabric of the Upper East Side. So, we’re also investing in improving the community, including redesigning our ambulance bays and receiving areas to improve traffic flow, as well as a significant investment in the local 6 subway stop to improve accessibility.
We are also deeply committed to expanding our impact on community wellness, health equity and access to care. Through partnerships with over 100 community and faith-based organizations, we are continuously working to advance health outcomes across our diverse city. Our free screenings, immunizations and educational programs empower individuals to take control of their well-being. Additionally, we are actively tackling key social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, through initiatives like our Wellness on Wheels program and our partnership with Harlem Grown, a local nonprofit addressing food disparities through urban farming.
Hospitals are not just buildings – they’re all about people. They’re a living, breathing community of hard-working physicians, nurses, administrators and other team members supporting fellow New Yorkers at a time of need. But it all starts with an investment in the physical facility.
As we continue through the rezoning process, we look forward to engaging with more voices across the city. Because together, through the course of the last 160 years, we built an incredible history for Lenox Hill Hospital – and this renewal project will mean an even healthier future ahead for this community and generations to come.
Dr. Daniel Baker is the president of Lenox Hill Hospital.
