The Brian Lehrer Show Meet the New NYC Health Commissioner
Mar 31, 2026
Alistair Martin, an emergency medicine physician turned public health leader, outlines his new NYC priorities. He discusses strengthening core public and mental health, expanding affordability and coverage, and raising visibility for equity work. He also covers Medicaid protections, prison reentry care, and community outreach campaigns.
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ER Doctor Turned Public Health Program Builder
- Alistair Martin left the ER to build programs tackling addiction, vaccination, and financial instability that he repeatedly saw drive poor health outcomes.
- He described moving from clinical work into program creation over 12 years, including work at the White House and state government before returning to NYC.
Public Health Priorities Linked To Affordability
- Martin's three priorities are bolstering core public and mental health capacity, linking public health to affordability, and making department work visible.
- He plans concrete pushes on Medicaid retention, benefits enrollment, medical debt erasure, and eviction prevention as health interventions.
Actively Protect Medicaid And Benefits Enrollment
- Do protect coverage by proactively helping New Yorkers maintain Medicaid and enroll in benefits like SNAP, WIC, EITC, and Lifeline.
- Martin details using clinic sites, reminders, and cross-agency work to prevent loss of coverage and enrollment gaps.