Board of Managers

Yuko Merchant, MD

Internal Medicine 

Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights 

Brooklyn, NY 

Yuko Merchant MD,  is the Chief of Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights.   We recently caught up with Dr. Merchant to learn more about her as a MSHP Board member. 

How long have you served on the Board?  

I have served on the Board for almost two years. 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 

Serving on the Board is a rewarding experience, especially after being part of the team that implemented various population health initiatives within the Faculty Practice. I find it fulfilling to help shape MSHP’s population health strategic goals. I particularly value the chance to collaborate with colleagues across different specialties and community physicians to enhance patient care. It is also gratifying to see these initiatives gradually scale up and better serve our communities over time.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
It is an honor to represent the East Side of Manhattan employed physicians in this role. My goal is to ensure their voices are accurately represented, and to align our efforts with the CIN’s mission and vision. In the long term, I aim to collaborate with other board members to find a balance between delivering exceptional care and enhancing financial sustainability.

Vino K. Palli, MD, MPH

Internal Medicine 

MiDoctor Health 

New York, NY 

Vino K. Palli, MD, MPH is an internist at MiDoctor Health. We recently caught up with Dr. Palli to learn more about him as a new MSHP Board member. 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
What I like most about serving on MSHP's Board of Managers is the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Arshad Rahim, extraordinary physicians and members of MSHP’s management team. Their clinical expertise and administrative contributions are commendable, and it's inspiring to be part of such a dedicated team. I am looking forward to working with all of the Board of Managers of Mount Sinai Health Partners to benefit our patients and providers and leverage our collective knowledge and passion for healthcare excellence.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
As a member of MSHP's esteemed Board of Managers, my tenure represents an important phase of both clinical expertise and a fervent commitment to advancing healthcare equity, quality and provider satisfaction. Drawing from a rich background in community-based healthcare, particularly at the intersection of Primary Care and the Emergency Room, I bring a nuanced understanding of the intricate challenges confronting both providers and patients within our healthcare landscape. My hope is to lend this perspective to our collective efforts, ensuring that the strategies we develop are not only clinically sound but also resonate deeply with the diverse needs of our community and providers.

At the heart of my aspirations lies an ambition to elevate the quality of care afforded to all New Yorkers while concurrently fostering a more supportive environment for our healthcare workforce. Recognizing the complex multifaceted burdens faced by both patients and providers alike, I am dedicated to identifying and dismantling systemic barriers that impede the delivery of optimal care. Through collaborative endeavors with my esteemed colleagues on the board, I endeavor to contribute to solutions that not only streamline care delivery but also nurture a culture of professional fulfillment and resilience among our healthcare professionals.

Moreover, I am resolute in my commitment to dismantling disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly among marginalized and underserved populations. By leveraging MSHP's expansive network and Clinical Integration Network (CIN), I aim to play a role in any initiatives that prioritize health and racial equity, striving towards a healthcare landscape where access to quality care is not dictated by socio-economic status or demographic characteristics. In essence, my tenure on the Board of Managers is guided by dedication to transformative change—one that transcends conventional paradigms to forge a more equitable and compassionate healthcare future for all.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
I like to bike ride along the Hudson, do mindful meditation every morning, and play with my wonderful Australian Shepherd dog named Dr. Nena @nenadevinyc on Instagram Please follow her.
 

Ailian Chen, MD, FACE, ECNU 

Endocrinology 

Ailian Chen MD, PC

Brooklyn, NY 

Ailian Chen, MD, FACE, ECNU  is an endocrinologist at Ailian Chen MD, PC. We recently caught up with Dr. Chen to learn more about her as a new MSHP Board member! 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
Get insight of the inner workings of the board and have a chance to improve its operation. 

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
To help the MSHP to find the most qualified member in my field of specialty.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Reading, music, and charity work 
 

Alfred Burger, MD

Internal Medicine 

Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Downtown Union Square

New York,  NY 

Alfred Burger, MD  is an internal medicine and hospital medicine physician at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Downtown Union Square.   We recently caught up with Dr. Burger to learn more about him as a MSHP Board member! 

How long have you served on the Board: 
I have served on the Board for three years. 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
The greatest part of being a member of the MSHP Board of Managers is the opportunity to represent and advocate for the all of the amazing providers working in our health system. On the board we address many healthcare delivery issues, one of which is provider reimbursement rates and what quality measures we use to reward providers for the all the hard work they do. As a board member I am able to merge my passion for delivering the best patient care with my background in healthcare systems delivery to work with MSHP leadership in a meaningful way on all the topics we have to consider.  I have also used this position to clarify several policies or processes for providers when they had questions. The joy I get from serving in this role comes from working on behalf of all the providers in the downtown area to make sure we have a voice in the decisions before the board.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers?
As a board member my goal is to work with MSHP leadership to reward our medical practices and providers for the great work they do in keeping New York City as healthy as possible. I am proud of the work we did to adjust our metrics and measurements during the various waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and will strive to continue this work to fit the evolving world of healthcare in which we live and the external societal factors that impact us. I hope to continue to make our health system a great place to work and the best health system in NYC. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Spending time with my family and our soon to arrive puppy, reading a good novel, running/walking in the various parks around NYC, and playing in a few adult sports leagues. 

Dr. Martin Baskin

Internal Medicine & Pulmonary Disease 

Manhattan West Medical, PC

New York,  NY 

Martin Baskin, MD. is a primary care physician and pulmonologist at Manhattan West Medical, P.C.  We recently caught up with Dr. Baskin to learn more about him as a MSHP Board member! 

How long have you served on the Board: 
I have been on the board since its inception. 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
I really enjoy the camaraderie and exchange of ideas with my colleagues in health care, administration, and IT.  I have been a member of the Finance and Funds Flow committee from its inception and gaining insight into the business of healthcare has been invaluable to me and the doctors I represent.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers?
I want to continue to advocate for my fellow primary care physicians who are working in the trenches and keep them informed of any upcoming changes that might impact their practices and take some of the load of patient care off their shoulders.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Spending time with my family, tennis, travel (finally!), reading the NY Times (if I can find the time), being a diehard NY Mets fan (LGM), and catching up on my streaming of series.
 

Dr. David Brody

Psychiatry 

David Brody, MD,  PLLC

New York,  NY 

Dr. Brody is a psychiatrist at David Brody, MD, PLLC. We recently caught up with Dr. Brody to learn more about him as a MSHP Board member! 

How long have you served on the Board
I joined the MSHP Board of Managers when it first started in 2015. 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
I enjoy the opportunity to interact with colleagues around integrating behavioral healthcare into primary care practice. I also enjoy the presentations at the Board about population health metrics, payer contracting and clinical outcomes.  None of this existed when I attended medical school (in the twentieth century!) and I am consistently filled with admiration for the MSHP physician leaders who focus their clinical, administrative and academic work on population health.  

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I want to be a voice that speaks to the importance of identifying opportunities in primary care to identify and treat psychiatric disorders.  We know that most psychiatric medication is prescribed by PCPs, not by psychiatrists or non-MD psychiatric prescribers (e.g., psychiatric NPs).  MSHP has improved access to behavioral health care for our patients and I want to help my clinical colleagues build on this success.  

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Fencing, reading, volunteer work.  
 

Dr. Michael Yaker

Pediatrics 

Westside Pediatrics 

New York,  NY 

Dr. Yaker is a pediatrician at Westside Pediatrics. We recently caught up with Dr. Yaker to learn more about him as a MSHP Board member! 

How many years have you served on the Board? 
I have served on the MSHP Board for many years and been co-president of the Mount Sinai IPA. 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
What I like most about serving on the MSHP Board of Managers is being actively involved in the greater Mount Sinai community, engaging colleagues from throughout the system.  I also very much value the ongoing personal education my involvement results in with regard to our complex healthcare system and the business side of medicine.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
As a Board member, my hope is to continue to advocate for pediatricians and primary care clinicians, especially those of us who choose to own and work in independent practices within the clinically integrated network.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
My interests outside of practicing general pediatrics include global health.  I have been on multiple missions to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and many trips to Rwanda.  I am an avid runner, having run over 30 marathons.  I sit on the Board of the Armory Foundation where we work to “keep kids on track” through running and college preparatory programs.  

Dr. H. Jay Wisnicki

Ophthalmology

Union Square Eye Center, LLC

New York,  NY 

Dr. Wisnicki is an Ophthalmologist at Union Square Eye Center/Care. We recently caught up with Dr. Wisnicki to learn more about him as a new MSHP Board member! 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
I've worked with MSHP’s clinically integrated network (CIN) since its inception and the Mount Sinai medical community for many years. I am new to the board, but I look forward to collaborating with other clinicians and people interested in meeting the mission of helping our patients as a team.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I hope to help get patients the care they need and ease physician burdens. We have a large eye care center with two facilities in Manhattan seeing almost 40,000 patient visits per year. I would like to help others develop and improve their practices and work together in innovative ways. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Piano, snowboarding, travel, playing with my 9 year old boy/girl twins (and wife of course)! 

Dr. Michael Frey

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Mount Sinai Doctors Westchester

Westchester, NY 

Michael Frey, MD is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Mount Sinai Doctors Westchester . We recently caught up with Dr. Frey to learn more about him as a  new MSHP Board member! 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
I am a new Board Member so I am excited to find that out! 

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I hope to learn how best to apply my knowledge and skills to this position. I am excited to represent our doctors as one of the non-Manhattan members. I am very eager to serve the board and I am passionate about population health.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Spending time with my family and playing with my dog.

Dr. Anthony Orlando

Foot Surgery

Anthony Orlando DPM, PC

Queens, NY 

Anthony Orlando, DPM, D.ABFAS is a podiatrist at Anthony Orlando DPM, PC and has served on MSHP’s board for six months. We recently caught up with Dr. Orlando to learn more about him as an MSHP Board member! 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
The opportunity to connect and exchange ideas with practitioners across many different specialties for the betterment of our collective practices and patients is one of the many great benefits of Board membership. 

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
As a Queens native and practitioner for over 30 years, I have come to understand many of the challenges and complexities of being an "outer-borough" provider and patient firsthand. As a Voluntary Non-Manhattan Specialist Board member, I will use my platform to represent and advocate for the interests and perspectives of my fellow non-Manhattanites. I look forward to furthering my work with Mount Sinai Health Partners by serving on the Board and hoping to see many more Mount Sinai locations all over our fine state in the years to come! 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Spending time with my wife and daughters, boating, squash, handball, cooking.

Dr. Sonia Gidwani

Pediatrics 

Our Kid's MD

New York, NY 

Dr. Gidwani is a pediatrician at Our Kids' MD and has served on MSHP’s board for five years. We recently caught up with Dr. Gidwani to learn more about her as an MSHP Board member! 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
I like that it encourages physicians to join the CIN and provide better quality care to patients to achieve better outcomes.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I hope to support initiatives that align with increasing physician satisfaction and decreasing physician burnout with the hopes of providers continuing to deliver high quality care and not feel the need to provide high volume care. Additionally, I hope to increase communication between physicians to improve outcomes in patient care. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy traveling and hiking. 

Dr. Stephanie Wang

Internal Medicine 

Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai Doctors at W91st/638 Columbus Ave Primary Care

New York, NY 

 Dr. Stephanie Wang is a member of MSHP’s clinically integrated network and is the Senior Medical Director of Care Transitions & Population Health at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, and the Medical Director at the Mount Sinai Doctors at W91st/638 Columbus Ave Primary Care. We recently caught up with Dr. Wang to learn more about her as she begins her journey as an MSHP Board member! 

What do you like most about serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers? 
What I like the most about serving on MSHP's Board of Managers is that as a primary care physician, I am invited to the table where we as a group shape the vision for our health system, and ultimately actualize it. It is a great honor and pleasure to represent the voice of Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West physicians, and be a part of the solution.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I'm proud of being part of Mount Sinai. I think we have grown as a health system, as population health managers, and as transformative agents for social change, but there is always more room for improvement. As part of MSHP's Board of Managers, I hope to be one of the people who can influence our practice redesign efforts, inform on ways to achieve those goals, and scale them across our health system. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
Hiking, rowing, musical theater, and mentoring youth 

Dr. Martin Malachovsky

Internal Medicine 

Bodhi Medical Care, LLC 

New York, NY 

Dr. Malachovsky is a member of MSHP’s clinically integrated network and practices at Bodhi Medical Care, LLC.  We recently caught up with Dr. Malachovsky to learn more about him as he begins his journey as an MSHP Board member! 

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I plan to work with MSHP on our clinically integrated network’s population health management goals and strategy. I am very dedicated to my patients and managing a multispecialty practice that is well integrated with Mount Sinai. I look forward to expanding my work with Mount Sinai Health Partners by serving on the Board. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
I have pre-teenage sons who occupy my spare time to the fullest. 

Dr. Arvind Kamthan

Oncology 

Mount Sinai Brooklyn Infusion Center

Brooklyn, NY 

Dr. Kamthan is a member of MSHP’s clinically integrated network and practices at Mount Sinai Brooklyn Infusion Center.  We recently caught up with Dr. Kamthan to learn more about him as he begins his journey as an MSHP Board member!  

What do you like most about serving on MSHP's Board of Managers? 
I like that I am able to promote the goals of the Mount Sinai Health System.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP's Board of Managers?
I have been in practice in the medical field for over 20 years in both academic and private practice settings. Currently, I am the Site Chief for Hematology and Medical Oncology at Mount Sinai Brooklyn. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, I held faculty appointments in Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine, the University of Connecticut, and West Virginia University. I'd like to contribute my experience in healthcare to help support Mount Sinai Health Partners’ population health management goals. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy playing tennis. 

Dr. Stephen Sisselman

Internal Medicine 

Sisselman Medical Group PC 

Massapequa, NY 

Dr. Sisselman is a member of MSHP’s clinically integrated network and practices internal medicine at the Sisselman Medical Group PC.  

What do you hope to accomplish while serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers?
I hope to work with the board in improving the population health of the communities we serve while enhancing the quality of the physician experience within our clinically integrated network. I am passionate about population health and have extensive executive board experience in helping to guide organizations in becoming and staying successful in value-based care. 

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy learning to play golf. I'm also interested in medical technology and its uses in improving the practice - doctor - patient interaction.
We look forward to Dr. Sisselman serving on MSHP’s Board of Managers!