New York City’s top doctor is on his way out — and he’s leaving months earlier than expected. Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan emailed his staff Tuesday morning to inform them that his last day in office will be this Friday.
Dr. Michelle Morse, the city’s chief medical officer and deputy commissioner for the health department’s Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness, will step in as interim health commissioner while the city searches for a permanent replacement, city officials said.
Vasan initially tendered his resignation late last month amid a wave of departures of top city officials and an ongoing federal investigation into Mayor Eric Adams and his administration. Vasan cited a need to focus more on his family, but vowed at the time to postpone his departure until early next year.
In a statement the city shared with Gothamist on Monday evening, Vasan said his family needs have “taken on greater urgency.” He did not offer any details about the situation but added, “it is time for the needs of my family to take precedence, despite how much I love this job, this work and this agency.”
The Adams administration is recruiting a replacement for Vasan amid an exodus of city leaders, and as Adams faces federal charges of fraud and bribery. At least seven top city officials have resigned over the past month, including Vasan. Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon is already on his way out weeks after he took office, city officials confirmed last week.
While some city officials have recently left their posts after visits from the FBI, Vasan hasn’t been tied to any federal investigations. He has helmed the city health department since Adams took office in 2022, and led the city through part of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies such as an outbreak of mpox. He has placed a special focus on adolescent mental health.
Despite his rapid exit, Vasan said he has worked with First Maria Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer and Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom on a transition plan “that ensures steadiness.”
Adams echoed Vasan’s assurances in his statement on the accelerated departure.
“While we are sorry to see him leave, we wholeheartedly respect his decision to prioritize the needs of his family and the greater urgency that those needs demand,” Adams said. He added that the city health department will “not miss a beat” as Morse steps in as interim commissioner.
Morse became the city’s first chief medical officer in February 2021, and was appointed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio. She’s an internist and has been charged with serving as a liaison between the health department and clinicians across the city. She is also an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
