Michael J. Dowling is one of the most influential voices in American healthcare and a 2026 Honoree of the Basil and Portia Paterson Scholarship Fundraiser. An award-winning healthcare leader, author and national keynote speaker, he is known for addressing complex societal issues—including public health, corporate responsibility and immigration—at moments when leadership and clarity are most needed.
Mr. Dowling served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Northwell Health for 23 years and is now CEO Emeritus, continuing to support the organization in an advisory capacity. Under his leadership, Northwell became the largest health system in New York State and a national model for patient care, innovation and workforce development.
Named a “Titan” on the TIME100 Health list in 2025, Mr. Dowling led Northwell to become the only health system included on TIME’s 2025 Most Influential Companies list. He has also been ranked among Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare for 16 consecutive years, reaching the top position in 2022.
Mr. Dowling is the author of Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis (2020), After the Roof Caved In: An Immigrant’s Journey from Ireland to America (2020) and The Aging Revolution: The History of Geriatric Health Care and What Really Matters to Older Adults (2024). He grew up in Limerick, Ireland, and has long spoken about the role of health systems as anchors of community stability and opportunity.