Newswise — New York (April 22, 2013) – Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Montefiore Medical Center, today was named one of 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in Healthcare in the ninth annual survey published by Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician. Designed to recognize leaders in the field who focus on improving healthcare delivery systems, the annual list is selected based on a combination of nominations and votes from magazine readers and senior editors. This is Dr. Safyer’s fifth consecutive year being recognized among this group of medical executive leaders.

“I am honored to be named alongside such a distinguished group of physician leaders and for Montefiore to therefore be recognized. In this transformative time in healthcare, Montefiore is a model for the entire country - bringing innovative care through an integrated, seamless delivery system,” Dr. Safyer said. “Montefiore has a unique social mission, one that everyone here strives to fulfill each day. It was the mission that attracted me as a resident and has motivated me throughout my career.”

Both a leading academic medical center and an integrated, comprehensive healthcare system, Montefiore is nationally renowned for its groundbreaking social activism and for its emphasis on equity and accountability in providing quality medical care to all. Under Dr. Safyer’s leadership, Montefiore has become a model for how innovation, vision, and academic and community partnerships can reinvigorate urban America’s healthcare systems and reshape patient care. Additionally, as the University Hospital and academic medical center for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore is committed to training the next generation of physician leaders as well as accelerating the pace at which research discoveries are translated into clinical treatments for the benefit of patients everywhere.

Dr. Safyer has worked at Montefiore as a physician leader and highly respected healthcare executive since 1982. He served as senior vice president and chief medical officer before taking the helm as president and chief executive officer in 2007. Under his leadership, Montefiore has established notable Centers of Excellence in areas including heart, cancer, pediatrics and transplantation, and significantly expanded the range of specialty care services offered. His leadership also led to the expansion of Montefiore's ambulatory healthcare network and development of innovative business and clinical strategies to provide care management under prepayment arrangements. Dr. Safyer early on championed the adoption of cutting-edge clinical information systems and created nationally recognized quality and safety programs.

Dr. Safyer received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Social Medicine at Montefiore.

Click here to read more about this year’s ‘50 Most Influential Physician Executives’ from Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician.

About Montefiore Medical Center As the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore is a premier academic medical center nationally renowned for its clinical excellence, scientific discovery and commitment to its community. Recognized among the top hospitals nationally and regionally by U.S. News & World Report, Montefiore provides compassionate, patient- and family-centered care and educates the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is consistently named in U.S. News' "America's Best Children's Hospitals," and is second among those in the New York metro area. With four hospitals, 1,491 beds and 90,000 annual admissions, Montefiore is an integrated health system seamlessly linked by advanced technology. State-of-the-art primary and specialty care is provided through a network of more than 130 locations across the region, including the largest school health program in the nation and a home health program. Montefiore's partnership with Einstein advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. The medical center derives its inspiration for excellence from its patients and community, and continues to be on the frontlines of developing innovative approaches to care. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org and www.montekids.org. Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; view us on YouTube.