United Hospital Fund president Anthony Shih, MD, has been honored with the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing 2020 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts on behalf of UHF in addressing the needs of children and their families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Shih was presented with the award on December 17 at a virtual Valedictory Celebration of the college’s 215 baccalaureate nursing candidates, who will be graduating in January 2021.
UHF President Anthony Shih MD
Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean of Rory Meyers College and a member of UHF’s board, presented Dr. Shih with the award. In her remarks, she noted that he has shown a lifelong commitment to serving vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. “It is my honor and privilege to present this award to a true humanitarian and a friend,” Dr. Sullivan-Marx said.
“I accept this award on behalf of all of my wonderful colleagues at United Hospital Fund, who have been working tirelessly over the past few months and deserve the lion’s share of credit for this recognition,” Dr. Shih said. He listed a number of projects UHF has undertaken to aid New Yorkers during the pandemic, including guides to help those who lost job-based health insurance find new coverage, research on the number of children in the state who lost a parent or guardian to COVID-19, and a series of commentaries by outside experts and UHF staff members on pandemic-related health care issues that have not been well covered by the general press.
“Perhaps most important for the long-term, we have doubled down on UHF’S work at the intersection of the health care delivery system and the community to address the social determinants of health,” he said. “This is critical to achieving an equitable and just system where everyone has the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.”
The Valedictory Ceremony, including Dr. Shih’s remarks, can be viewed here. The virtual ceremony includes a video created by UHF and featuring New York-area health care workers singing “Rise Up” in tribute to their colleagues across the region who cared for patients during the height of the pandemic; the video can also be viewed on YouTube.