AHA Trustee Ram Raju receives award for efforts to improve minority health

The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) today presented its Booker T. Washington Award to Ramanathan (Ram) Raju, M.D., president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, for his efforts to advance diversity in the field, reduce health care disparities and provide equitable care to all patients.

Raju accepted the award at NMQF’s Leadership Summit on Health Disparities and Congressional Black Caucus Spring Health Braintrust in Washington, D.C.

“Dr. Raju is committed to making sure NYC Health + Hospitals provides each and every person who comes through their doors with high-quality, safe and equitable care,” said Tomás León, president and CEO of the AHA-affiliated Institute for Diversity in Health Management, who presented Raju the award. “Through his leadership, NYC Health + Hospitals created a 2020 Vision Plan – a roadmap to enhance equitable care that builds on their strengths to increase workforce diversity, build sustainable communities and improve the patient experience and outcomes. I am honored to be able to present the award to such a deserving health care leader.”

Raju is member of the AHA Board of Trustees and chair of the AHA’s Equity of Care Committee, where he leads the association’s #123forEquity Pledge to Act Campaign to Eliminate Health Care Disparities.