NYC Health Commissioner To Resign By Early Next Year

NEW YORK CITY — Ashwin Vasan, the New York City Health Commissioner, announced his resignation on Monday and will leave his position next January.

In a post on X, Vasan said it was an honor to serve the city he loves and cited wanting to be with his family more as the reason behind his departure.

"As anyone with a family — or a chosen family — knows, you are never alone in service," Vasan said. "My wife and three young children have served alongside me, bearing the brunt of my absence and shouldering so much. I'm grateful for their love and have chosen that now it is time to support them and their wellbeing. While this was a hard decision, it was the right one for me and my family. I also look forward to continuing my clinical work and teaching, while supporting initiatives to advance health, equity, and access across this city and this nation."

Vasan praised the department for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We took those challenges-and so many others-head on, even diseases that many haven't heard of, because that is the work of preventing public health issues before they occur. We have accomplished so much in the past few years, from leading the city out of the pandemic and a period of crisis, to heralding a new era of public health," Vasan added.

Mayor Eric Adams thanked Vasan for his service in a statement.

"His expertise as a mental health expert, coupled with his training as a public health professional, have proven indispensable to our city over the past two-and-a-half years as we've handled rising COVID rates, Mpox outbreaks, and a mental health crisis both on our streets and in our schools."

"I appreciate Dr. Vasan's decision to stay on through early next year as we transition to a new commissioner, and we are confident that because of his hard work putting into place critical public health initiatives New York City is and will continue to be a safer and healthier place for a long time to come. I hope all New Yorkers join me in thanking Dr. Vasan and his entire family for their service."