Dr. Renuka Gupta has been appointed as chief of medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Dr. Gupta, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, began her role in July 2020. She is succeeding Dr. Judy Tung, who had served in this role since 2016 and was recently appointed as the Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Weill Cornell Medicine in addition to her continuing role in the Division of General Internal Medicine as section chief of Adult Internal Medicine.
At NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, Dr. Gupta will oversee and coordinate the outpatient and inpatient activities of the Department of Medicine faculty at the hospital, and will serve as a liaison between the faculty, division chiefs, and NewYork-Presbyterian leadership.
“We are excited to have Dr. Renuka Gupta join our leadership team at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital and continue the distinguished work that has been led by Dr. Judy Tung to elevate the quality of care we provide our patients,” says Juan Mejia, M.P.H., senior vice president and chief operating officer of NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. “Along with her many years of outstanding clinical experience, Dr. Gupta is also focused on building a sense of belonging within our hospital system and has developed policies to help health care providers who encounter discriminatory or abusive patients. Her leadership on these issues will be critical as we continue our work to foster a culture of respect across NewYork-Presbyterian for our staff, our patients and all the communities we serve.”
“We are delighted that Dr. Gupta has joined NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital as the new chief of medicine,” said Dr. Anthony Hollenberg, physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and the Sanford I. Weill Chair of the Weill Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. “She is a skilled leader, educator and physician, and her innovative approaches to operational efficiency and quality improvement will allow the Hospital to continue to deliver the very best care to all our patients.”
Dr. Gupta earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree in India. She then joined the Indian Army and served as a captain/physician, where she oversaw medical care for officers, recruits, soldiers, and their families. After moving to the United States in 2002, she completed a residency program at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center (an academic affiliate of Weill Cornell Medicine), followed by a nutrition fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. In 2010, she joined NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center as a hospitalist.
“I am excited to help bring an even greater level of personalized care to the community of Lower Manhattan,” says Dr. Gupta.” I look forward to learning from and working alongside dedicated staff, and continuing my role as a liaison to hospital leadership to support and elevate the services at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.”
In addition to her roles as a clinician and educator, Dr. Gupta is an expert on hospital operational efficiency, hospital systems, health care policy, and quality improvement. In 2018, she was appointed as the Physician Liaison for Operational Efficiency in Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian and has played key roles in improving both efficiency and functionality in the hospital as well as reducing average length of stay.
Dr. Gupta is also a leader in the academic domain of discrimination against health care providers, traveling around the country and giving talks on this topic to national conferences and in academic medical centers. At NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, she began holding small huddles with staff – social workers, care coordinators, nurses, and residents – to help create a safe space where colleagues could express their feelings when they experience discrimination.
“It’s a terrible feeling when you have been discriminated against and there is no one for you to talk to. I don't want anyone to feel that way,” says Dr. Gupta. “I want colleagues throughout the hospital to feel there is an open door policy where they can walk in, talk to me, and know there is someone who understands what they’re going through.”
“My passion is working in a community setting,” she adds. “I want to keep building a sense of community at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital for both patients and staff, and bring small town congeniality to a big city hospital.”