Last week, Robert Newman, MD, MPH, a Beth Israel giant, passed away. He worked here for more than 25 years and served as President of Beth Israel from 1978-1997 and then President of Continuum Health Partners from 1997-2000. I have been overwhelmed by how many of you knew him personally and felt this loss deeply.
A photo of Dr. Newman for the annual report in 1987.
Dr. Newman was influential in developing many of the programs we have now and established many of the active principles we continue to aspire to today. Dr. Newman was:
A champion for addiction care
He created and expanded New York City’s network of methadone programs. This network is a part of MSBI today and is still one of the largest in the country.
What I admire about Dr. Newman’s work in this area was not only his expertise and undying persistence, but his respect for patients. He understood that addiction is a disease that could strike anyone, and that it required access to long-term treatment. He fought tirelessly his entire life to decrease the stigma around addiction and to create healthcare policies that increased access to care.
A leader during growth, change, and innovation
During his time at Beth Israel, Dr. Newman oversaw the many expansion projects, including the acquisition of King’s Highway Medical Center, now Mount Sinai Brooklyn, and the opening of the Phillips Ambulatory Care Center, now Mount Sinai Union Square, in 1995. Phillips Ambulatory Care Center was one of the first ambulatory centers in New York City. After this, he led the integration and merger of the hospitals now known as Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, Mount Sinai West, and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai to become Continuum Health Partners. He also led the centennial anniversary celebration for Beth Israel in 1990.
Click on the photo below to see more pictures of Dr. Newman’s time at MSBI.
An advocate for the underserved
In addition to his advocacy for addiction access, he spearheaded Beth Israel’s HIV/AIDS clinic that was one of the first in the country, and the first ever Jewish hospice care unit in Manhattan. He partnered with the Tokio Marine Fire Insurance Company to establish the Japanese Medical Practice in 1990 which specifically catered to the needs of Japanese people. This practice still exists as a part of Mount Sinai Doctors at 34th Street and 141 South Central Avenue Hartsdale in Westchester.
An educator and mentor
Dr. Newman is internationally known and spent a lot of time teaching in Japan, Hong Kong, and other countries. As a part of his bilingual practice focused on Japanese patients, he created a training program for doctors from Japan and more than 180 practitioners have participated in the last 28 years. He was an advocate for the Beth Israel Phillips School of Nursing as well, and was close with Seymour Phillips and his family.
Dr. Newman spoke at the rededication of the Phillips Family Legacy Display in the Phillips School of Nursing in April 2018. He is pictured with Janet Phillips Green, Phillips School of Nursing board member.
A dedicated and creative collaborator
I had to share this remarkable story: One time, Dr. Newman and his Beth Israel and New York City colleagues went as far as to open a methadone maintenance treatment program on a ferryboat to help hundreds of people receive their care after another clinic had shut down. His dedication was unwavering and his resourcefulness unparalleled.
Thanks to one of our beloved Trustees, Bobbie Abrams, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Newman this year. I will be forever grateful to know him even briefly.
My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Newman, his family, and with every life he touched. God bless you all.