BMIRH Medical Director, Bureau of Maternal Infant and Reproductive Health

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is as varied as the city it serves. Our 6,000-plus team members bring an extraordinary array of languages, cultures, and experiences to bear on the work of public health. Our diversity fuels creativity because all perspectives are heard and valued.

The Division of Family and Child Health (DFCH) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is charged with the creation and oversight of programs, policies, services, and environments that support physical and socio-emotional health, and promote primary and reproductive health services, health equity, social justice, safety and well-being for New York City families and children.

The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Maternal Infant and Reproductive Health, the Bureau of Early Intervention, the Office of School Health, and the Bureau of Administration.

The vision of the DFCH is that every child, woman, and family recognize their power and is given the opportunity to reach their full health and development potential.

We encourage qualified applicants with demonstrated commitment to social justice, particularly racial, gender, and LGBTQ equity, to apply.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Providing medical expertise, leadership and support to the Assistant Commissioner to inform BMIRH initiatives to reduce racial disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity.
• Providing clinical trainings and updates as it relates to BMIRH programmatic work and bureau priorities and goals.

Staying current on relevant publications and share with BMIRH staff as needed.

• Collaborating with the Bureau’s Research and Evaluation staff to support data collection and analysis; helping to inform the language and message for narrative descriptions of collected data; conducting literature reviews and inform program data collection tools and evaluation for all maternal health projects including participation in the Maternal, Mortality Review Committee work.
• Collaborating with the Bureau’s Maternal/Child Health and Nurse-Family Partnership leadership and staff around its home visiting programs, including providing clinical guidance and support, participating in development and review of medical and technical materials and curricula, including nursing and social work protocols and supervision.
• Collaborating with the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Equity Unit leadership and staff to provide clinical guidance and support to their sexuality education materials review and updating them on the full spectrum of current sexual and reproductive health care and practice; inform SRH policy and advocacy work in reproductive justice.
• Collaborating with medical directors and leaders with the Division of Family and Child Health and across other divisions in the agency to provide expertise in maternal, reproductive, and child health. Work collaboratively to align health goals and priorities to support a lifecourse approach for the division and agency.
• Working with the Chief Medical Officer to support the Coalition to End Racism in Clinical Algorithms and liaise with hospital clinicians and leadership around public health goals.
• Supporting the work of the perinatal taskforce, providing clinical expertise and guidance for the various initiatives with community and hospital partners. Support the midwifery initiative.
• Working collaboratively with other units and colleagues in the bureau on cross-bureau projects emphasizing teamwork and effective communication.
• Representing the Assistant Commissioner and Bureau at meetings, conferences and other activities as needed. Serve as Acting AC in the AC’s absence.

Preferred Skills:

• Board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology or Family Medicine
• Master’s in Public Health degree or Master’s degree in related field
• Minimum 5 years managerial and supervisory experience
• Understanding of and commitment to sexual and reproductive and racial justice as essential frameworks to guide and implement the work; experience implementing activities applying a reproductive and racial justice lens and approach.
• Experience working with community partners and/or community-based work.

Why you should work for us:

• Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as: o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment. o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund. o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement. o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers! The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York; and either: a) Valid Board Certification issued by the appropriate American Specialty Board in any specialty area required by the agency; or b) Current approved application on file for admission to the certifying examination given by the appropriate American Specialty Board in any specialty area required by the agency.

To be assigned to Assignment Level II, individuals must have, in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements for Assignment Level I described above, one year of satisfactory experience practicing in the specialty area.

To be assigned to Assignment Level III, individuals must possess: a) A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York; and b) A Master's degree in Public Health, or equivalent Master's degree, including or supplemented by graduate credits in epidemiology and biostatistics. Completion of Epidemic Intelligence Service program of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to substitute for this Master's degree; and c) At least two years of satisfactory experience after receipt of the Master's degree, or equivalent, in the practice of epidemiology. Specialty Board Certification or eligibility may be substituted for one year of this experience.

To be assigned to Assignment Level IV, individuals must possess: a) A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York; and b) Completion of an approved residency program in an accredited hospital, including three years of experience, in either internal medicine, or family practice, or pediatrics, or another related specialty area required by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and c) Valid board certification or board eligibility issued by the appropriate American Subspecialty Board in Infectious Disease, Pulmonary Medicine, or a related subspecialty; and d) Completion of an approved fellowship program in an accredited hospital, including two years of experience, in either infectious diseases, or pulmonary medicine, or another related subspecialty required by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.