Recently, amid multiple federal investigations facing New York City officials, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health, announced on the 23rd of January 2025 that he would step down from his current position at the beginning of the year. Dr. Vasan emphasized that this decision was based on personal and family reasons and was unrelated to the various federal investigations involving the current New York City administration. This marks the third resignation of a New York City official under the leadership of Mayor Eric Adams, following former Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief Legal Counsel Lisa Zornberg.
In his statement, Dr. Vasan expressed, “To have served as the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health, being the ‘doctor’ of this city, and serving 8.3 million New Yorkers, has been the greatest honor of my life.” Reflecting on his three years of work, he believed that the timing for him and his family to make this decision was appropriate. He plans to continue clinical work and teaching post his resignation, while also supporting various initiatives aimed at improving health and medical accessibility.
Mayor Eric Adams subsequently released a statement expressing gratitude to Dr. Vasan, stating, “He led us through the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak of Mpox, and the increasingly severe mental health crises in schools and on the streets.” He highlighted that Dr. Vasan had spearheaded many public health initiatives during his tenure, which will have an impact on the health status of New York City residents and improve their quality of life.
During his tenure as Commissioner of the Department of Health, Dr. Vasan led the implementation of a series of significant public health initiatives, including policies to reduce medical debt for low- and middle-income city residents, providing free virtual mental health therapy platforms for high school students in New York City, and the “HealthyNYC” program aiming to increase the average lifespan of residents to over 83 years by 2030, all of which were key projects during Dr. Vasan’s time in office.
“I appreciate Dr. Vasan’s decision to stay on until early next year to ensure a smooth transition for the incoming commissioner,” Adams said. “The fruits of his hard work will ensure that New York City continues to be a healthier and safer place in the years to come.”
Anne Williams-Isom, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, stated in a release, “Thanks to Dr. Vasan’s leadership, New York City has become healthier. I am grateful to him and his family for their service to the city. I look forward to working with him until the end of the year to ensure a smooth handover.”
As Dr. Vasan announced his resignation, federal investigators are currently looking into several key aides and officials of Mayor Adams, including Schools Chancellor David Banks, Deputy Mayors Philip Banks III and Sheena Wright, as well as former Police Commissioner Caban. However, neither Adams nor his aides have been charged with any crimes by the FBI, and the reasons for the investigations have not been disclosed.
Last week, Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief Legal Counsel Lisa Zornberg from the Mayor’s Office also announced their resignations. Dr. Vasan emphasized that the decisions to resign were unrelated to the departures of these officials or the ongoing federal investigations facing the city administration.