Oxiris Barbot

Oxiris Barbot (/ɔːkˈsiːdiːs/) is an American pediatrician who served as the Commissioner of Health of the City of New York from 2018 to 2020.

Oxiris Barbot
Health Commissioner of New York City
In office
December 19, 2018 – August 4, 2020
Acting: September 1, 2018 – December 19, 2018
MayorBill de Blasio
Preceded byMary T. Bassett
Succeeded byDave A. Chokshi
Personal details
BornManhattan, New York City, US
EducationYale University (BA)
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (MD)
OccupationPediatrician

Early life and education

Barbot was born at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan in New York City, and refers to herself as a "Nuyorican," a term of pride used by New Yorkers who have deep Puerto Rican roots.[1][2] Her father committed suicide with a handgun when she was nine years old.[3] She lived in the Patterson Houses in the Bronx, before moving with her mother to northern New Jersey.[1]

Barbot received a bachelor of arts degree from Yale University, and a medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (graduating in 1991).[4][5][6] She completed her pediatric residency at George Washington University’s Children’s National Medical Center.[5]

Early career

Barbot was the chief of pediatrics and community medicine at Unity Health Care, Inc., a health center in Washington, DC.[5] She then, starting in 2003, served as medical director of the Office of School Health at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the NYC Department of Education.[5][1] She then served as commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, starting in 2010.[5][1] Barbot then served as the first deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, starting in 2014.[5][1]

Commissioner of Health of the City of New York

Barbot was the Commissioner of Health of the City of New York, a position she was appointed to in December 2018 by Mayor Bill de Blasio, succeeding Mary T. Bassett.[5][7][8] She was the first Latina to head the Health Department.[1][9][10]

Coronavirus pandemic

On January 26, 2020, over a month before the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in the New York City area in the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, Barbot said at a press conference: "We are encouraging New Yorkers to go about their everyday lives and suggest practicing everyday precautions that we do through the flu season".[11] On February 2, with the city's first coronavirus case under investigation, Barbot stated: "The risk to New Yorkers from coronavirus is low and ... our preparedness as a city is very high. There is no reason not to take the subway, not to take the bus, not to go out to your favorite restaurant, and certainly not to miss the [Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival] parade next Sunday [Feb. 9]."[12][13] At the end of March, political commentator Tucker Carlson criticized her, saying "Future generations are gonna watch that video with their jaws open in disbelief. How could someone charged with protecting public health so recklessly endanger it?"[12]

On March 2 she said that people can't contract coronavirus through casual, short-term exposure, but instead require prolonged exposure to the infected person's secretions.[14] At a press conference on March 3, Barbot said: "We are encouraging New Yorkers to go about their everyday lives".[15] On March 20 Barbot warned that masks should only be used by people who are showing symptoms, saying: "The time to use a mask is when someone is symptomatic, when they’re coughing, when they’re sneezing, and it’s to ensure that that individual doesn’t contaminate other folks. It gives people who are asymptomatic a false sense of security that if they wear this mask, they don’t have to wash their hands, they don’t have to cover their mouths and their noses when they cough or they sneeze."[16]

Barbot denied a New York Police Department (NYPD) request for 500,000 surgical masks in mid-March.[17] She told NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan during the heated dispute that “I don't give two rats’ asses about your cops.” Monahan asked Barbot for 500,000 masks, but she said she could only provide 50,000, saying “I need them for others.” The Detectives' Endowment Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, and Police Benevolent Association called for her to be fired, as did Democrat Representative Max Rose.[17] The Sergeants Benevolent Association expressed their displeasure through an obscene tweet and statement from President Ed Mullins. Barbot later apologized for her private statement.[17]

Ultimately, citing her deep distress with the mayor's actions, she resigned on August 4, 2020.[18] A press release from the mayor later that day announced the appointment of Dave A. Chokshi as her replacement.[19]

References
  1. Lisa L. Colangelo (January 17, 2019). "NYC's new Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot knows what it's like to be denied care". Amny.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. "Barbot named city's new Health Commissioner; Barbot nombrada nueva comisionada de salud". Manhattan Times News. December 27, 2018. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  3. Hicks, Nolan (December 19, 2018). "New York City health commissioner shares story of father's suicide". New York Post. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. Meredith Cohn (July 7, 2010). "N.Y. official to lead Baltimore's health department," The Baltimore Sun.
  5. "The Commissioner - NYC Health; Oxiris Barbot, MD". nyc.gov. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  6. Mullan, Fitzhugh (October 27, 1998). "Bridging Gaps Of Language And Culture". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  7. "Member Profiles; Oxiris Barbot". Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  8. Jennifer Henderson (December 19, 2018). "Barbot named health commissioner". Crains New York. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  9. Dr. Oxiris Barbot (December 3, 2019). "The Only Girl On The Yankees". Ms. Magazine. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  10. Jillian Jorgensen. "Dr. Oxiris Barbot named New York City health commissioner," Archived 2020-04-10 at the Wayback Machine New York Daily News.
  11. Goldstein, Joseph; Singer, Jeffrey E. (January 27, 2020). "New York Braces for Coronavirus: 'It's Inevitable'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  12. Victor Garcia (March 26, 2020). "Tucker Carlson slams NYC leaders for 'endangering' public in early stages of coronavirus pandemic". Fox News. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  13. "Coronavirus fear affecting Chinatown businesses". FOX 5 NY. February 3, 2020. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  14. James Ford. "NYC leaders try to quell coronavirus concerns after 1st confirmed case," Archived 2020-04-07 at the Wayback Machine PIX11.
  15. Lawson, Kyle (March 3, 2020). "Coronavirus risk 'remains low' in NYC; same-day testing now available, officials say". SILive.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  16. Curtis Brodner (March 24, 2020). "No Mask, No Gloves, No Service: Southern Brooklyn Businesses Start to Turn Away Customers Without Masks". Bklyner. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  17. Russo, Melissa. "Calls for NYC Health Chief Oxiris Barbot to Resign After Rejecting NYPD PPE Request". NBC New York. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  18. Goodman, J. David (August 4, 2020). "N.Y.C. Health Commissioner Resigns After Clashes With Mayor Over Virus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  19. "NYC switches public health chief amid pandemic". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. August 5, 2020. p. A1. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
Government offices
Preceded by
Mary T. Bassett		 Commissioner of Health of the City of New York
2018 – 2020		 Succeeded by
Dave A. Chokshi
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