Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center has appointed Mathew Foley MD, as its medical director. Dr. Foley succeeds Richard Schwarz, MD, who is taking on the new role of vice president of medical affairs and quality at Northwell Health.
Dr. Foley is an experienced clinical leader; he previously served as vice chair of emergency medicine at North Shore University Medical Center in Manhasset. Prior to joining Northwell, Dr. Foley spent stints in emergency medicine at NYU Langone and University Hospital of Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate.
Dr. Foley was vice chair of emergency medicine and an associate professor at NYU Langone Health, where he had emergency department oversight for NYU Tisch, NYU Brooklyn, NYU Orthopedic Hospital, Bellevue Hospital and NYU Cobble Hill. Dr. Foley also led the creation of NYU Langone’s telemedicine program.
“Dr. Foley is an accomplished and respected emergency medicine physician with a wealth of experience,” said Michael Gitman, MD, executive director, LIJ Medical Center. “He is a collaborative, innovative leader and the perfect choice to succeed Dr. Richard Schwarz, who has been promoted to vice president of medical affairs and quality for Northwell Health. We welcome Dr. Foley and wish Dr. Schwarz well.”
Dr. Schwarz will play an integral role leading Northwell’s policies and procedures while co-chairing the health system’s performance improvement coordinating group. Dr. Schwarz previously held leadership posts at Huntington Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital as well as several dialysis and medical groups throughout the region.
Both Drs. Schwarz and Foley proved to be crucial clinical leaders during COVID-19, especially during the First Wave when their respective hospitals stood at the epicenter of the pandemic. Dr. Foley was named Physician of the Year at North Shore University Hospital in 2020-21.
“I am honored to join Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which serves one of the most diverse populations in the nation,” said Dr. Foley. “I am grateful for the opportunity to support the staff of every department at LIJ to help create destination programs. Fostering the best working environment within our medical center is paramount to LIJ’s mission of providing quality care for all patients regardless of income, race, religion, sexuality or creed.”
Dr. Foley received his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., earned a Master of Science in nutrition from Columbia University in New York as well as a Bachelor of Arts in human biology from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.