New York City announced March 11 as “Dr. Dave Chokshi Day” after its health commissioner, who was appointed mid-pandemic.
Mayor Eric Adams issued the proclamation Friday to honor Chokshi “for his leadership during the pandemic and his dedication to protecting and improving the health of all New Yorkers.”
Chokshi was appointed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio as the city’s health commissioner in August 2020 as a result of his predecessor Dr. Oxiris Barbot resigning over differences with the mayor at the time. Barbot had taken issue with de Blasio’s decision to strip the local health department of the responsibilities associated with contact tracing.
DOCTORS KEEP AN EYE ON OMICRON SUBVARIANT AS IT REARS ITS HEAD IN NYC
?March 11 is officially “Dr. Dave Chokshi Day” in NYC!? Today @NYCMayor issued a proclamation honoring @NYCHealthCommr for his leadership during the pandemic and his dedication to protecting and improving the health of all New Yorkers. Congratulations, Dr. Chokshi! ??? pic.twitter.com/YK3cQlXpgN
— nychealthy (@nycHealthy) March 11, 2022
“Dr. Dave Chokshi made some tough calls and he took a lot of criticism,” Adams tweeted Friday. “He ignored the critics, held the line and saved countless New Yorkers. Our city is safer and healthier because of his leadership. Doc, you’re a hero. Thank you for your service as our [health commissioner].”
Dr. Dave Chokshi made some tough calls and he took a lot of criticism. He ignored the critics, held the line and saved countless New Yorkers. Our city is safer and healthier because of his leadership.
Doc, you’re a hero. Thank you for your service as our @NYCHealthCommr. https://t.co/OYql79W7mD
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 11, 2022
During his tenure, Chokshi mandated vaccines for over 160,000 municipal workers, including teachers, approved supervised injection sites to curb overdoses, and also brought the city’s contact tracing program to an end as of April 30. He is stepping down as commissioner to return to practicing medicine at Bellevue Hospital.
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Primary care physician and mental health expert Dr. Ashwin Vasan will have his first day as commissioner on March 16.
