Harry C. Barrett, D.Min., M.P.H., served as president and chief executive officer of New York Medical College from August 1992 to December 31, 2006.
During Dr. Barrett's 14-year tenure, he implemented a College-wide strategic plan resulting in campus improvements including the construction of the Medical Education Center, the Alumni Gross Anatomy Laboratory and the Alumni Computer Learning Laboratory. He also led the development of the Center for Disaster Medicine, the Hudson Valley Center for Health Sciences, Biotechnology and Public Health, the Institute for Bioethics, and the New Yorkers Caring for New York program. He directed a number of ground-breaking regional health care initiatives addressing such topics as bioterrorism, the health of local immigrant populations, the treatment of post-traumatic stress syndrome in victims of mass trauma and the nation's need for more primary-care physicians. Under his leadership, the College saw increased research funding and fundraising as well as improved student performance.
Prior serving as president, he served as Director of Pastoral Formation at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., from 1986-1992. In addition, Dr. Barrett was a professor of pastoral psychology at the Seminary.
From 1982 to 1986, he served as the Director of the Hospital Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York, working closely with chaplains in all hospitals and nursing homes in the Archdiocese. Previously, Msgr. Barrett was Acting Supervisor of the Clinical Pastoral Education Department at Cabrini Medical Center in New York City. From 1977 to 1986, he was a faculty member at the St. John Neumann Residence in Riverdale, N.Y., and from 1976 to 1981, served as Associate Director of the Department of Health and Hospitals, Archdiocese of New York.
Dr. Barrett was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on May 26, 1973, and served as a parish priest and hospital chaplain in the New York City borough of the Bronx, until 1977. During this period, he was also involved with the Family Consultation Service of the Archdiocese of New York as Supervisor of Counselors, with prior experience as a Counselor and Psychometrician. He was elevated to the rank of Monsignor in 1995.
Dr. Barrett had been a member of various professional associations including the Catholic Health Association, American Public Health Association, Greater New York Hospital Association, New York State Catholic Conference and the National Association of Catholic Chaplains He was a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Barrett served on the Board of Directors of St. Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers, New York, Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, and the Westchester County Association in White Plains, New York.
Born on November 20, 1946, Dr. Barrett was a 1968 graduate of St. Joseph's Seminary. He received an M.S. in Education and Counseling from St. John's University, and in 1973, was awarded a Masters of Divinity degree from St. Joseph's Seminary. In 1980, he received a Masters of Public Health degree from Columbia University and in 1986, he was awarded a Doctor of Ministry/Pastoral Psychology degree from the New York Theological Seminary.
Dr. Barrett passed away on Friday, August 25, 2017, at the age of 70.