NYMC > Faculty > Faculty Profiles > In Memoriam > Choolfaian, Annette

Annette Choolfaian, R.N., M.P.A.

Professor Emerita of Health Policy and Management

Email: annette_choolfaian@nymc.edu

Address:

Department of Health Policy and Management 
School of Health Sciences and Practice Building
Valhalla, NY 10595

Professional Interests:

Ms. Choolfaian has a broad and varied clinical, academic and executive health care background which includes extensive experience in the development and management of health care delivery systems.  Throughout her career she has devoted herself to the improvement of access to and quality of health care for all Americans, particularly the underserved.  She served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the St. Luke's /Roosevelt Hospital Center subsequent to her appointment as Assistant Vice President for Health Care Programs Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Greater New York.  Earlier she served as Associate Administrator, Community and Ambulatory Services, Long Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center.

Ms. Choolfaian was a pioneer in the planning and implementing of the first patient care programs for AIDS patients and worked with the New York State Department of Health to develop the reimbursement and services for the statewide response to the AIDS pandemic.  In addition, she has been an active participant in the Association of Schools of Public Health, the Council on Public Health Education, the Greater New York Hospital Association, the Health Care Association of New York State, the New York Academy of Medicine and the American College of Health Care Executives.  She was the March of Dimes Corporate Chairperson for the first Health Industry Walk America. She was invited to serve as a study section member for the National Center for Health Services Research and served as a panelist for the Department of Health and Human Services addressing Hospice issues. Presently, she serves on the Board and is the President of the Women’s City Club of New York – a public policy advocacy organization.  

Ms Choolfaian continues to give generously of her time and expertise to international humanitarian efforts.  She is Vice – President of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and has developed health and social services programs in Armenia.  These include: a Children’s Center in Armenia for orphaned and abandoned street children; fellowship programs for senior members of the Ministry of Health of the Armenian Republic and Armenian Health Care Managers in order to expand their knowledge of health care delivery, financing and management; serving as a member of the international advisory committee for Yerevan State Medical University.  She has also been an advisor to The Armenia Fund on the development of a primary care clinic in Ngorno – Karabagh as well as an advisor and reviewer for several USAID projects in Armenia. 

Ms Choolfaian was a member of a White House delegation of health care professionals who went to Czechoslovakia immediately after the “velvet revolution” to meet and confer with the faculty of Charles University Medical School.  After those meetings, she became an advisor to the Minister of Health of Czechoslovakia; in that capacity she assisted in the development of medical services and medical education reorganization.  This included on- site teaching as well as educational fellowships in the United States.

Special awards and recognition given to Ms. Choolfaian include: Ellis Island Medal of Honor, AAHPO award for Distinguished Achievements in Public Health; American College of Health Care Executives – Reagents Award; Fellowship in the New York Academy of Medicine; Member of the YWCA New York City Academy of Women Achievers; Recipient of the New York University Distinguished Alumnus Award; Teacher of the Year New York Medical College School of Public Health.  She studied in the doctoral program at Columbia University as well as serving on the faculty.  In addition she received her Masters in Public Administration from New York University and Bachelor of Science from the College of Nursing University of Bridgeport.

Education Profile:

Post Graduate Studies:   
Graduate Degree: R.N., M.P.A.
Graduate Degree Institution: New York University Graduate School of Public Administration   
Undergraduate Institution: University of Bridgeport College of Nursing