Jon Cohen

Jon R. Cohen is an American vascular surgeon and politician from Lake Success, New York. He is currently the Chief policy advisor to Governor of New York David Paterson. Cohen had been a 2006 Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York, a role that eventually went to Paterson. In 2004, he served health care policy advisor to the presidential campaign of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, and filled a similar role in the gubernatorial campaigns of Eliot Spitzer in 2006 and H. Carl McCall in 2002.

Prior to joining the executive chamber, he practiced medicine in Nassau County and has been active in medical management. Cohen was a professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and senior lecturer at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, has published over 100 peer-reviewed professional articles and authored two books.

Medical career and background

Cohen graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed his residency in surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He later trained in vascular surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

After time as a surgeon, he became Executive Vice President of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, as well as Chairman of Surgery and Chief of Vascular Surgery. [" [http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20080328-4.html Patterson announces two more appointments] ". " [http://www.empirestatenews.net Empire State News] ." March 27, 2008.] In that role, he grew the department to 18 surgeons with positive revenue of $14 million, and provided oversight for a $50 million operating/recovery room expansion." [http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_0327081.html Governor Paterson announces administration appointment] ". "New York State". March 27, 2008.] During this time, he was critical in the merger of North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, two facilities that had been arch rivals.

He rose to the position of Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, before joining the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Managing Director of Health Industries Advisory services.Chan, Swell. " [http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/paterson-names-counsel-and-senior-adviser/ Paterson Names Counsel and Senior Adviser] ". "New York Times". March 27, 2008.] Spector, Joseph. " [http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/27/if-you-cant-beat-em/ If You Can’t Beat ‘Em] ". "Journal News". March 27, 2008.]

2006 campaign for Lieutenant Governor of New York

In 2005, Cohen announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of New York. His platform centered on health care and health policy issues. Cohen raised more than $500,000 for his election bid. [" [http://www.elections.state.ny.us/plsql_browser/efs_summary_page?comid_in=A18923&rdate_in=16-JAN-2008&reportid_in=J&eyear_in=2008 Friends of Jon Cohen. 2008 January Periodic Report Summary Page] ". "New York State Board of Elections". Retrieved March 29, 2008.] He was viewed as front runner in the race which included State Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, Wappinger Town supervisor Joe Ruggiero, and Leecia Eve, an aide to Sen. Hillary Clinton.Mead, Julia. " [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/16licohe.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fS%2fSpitzer%2c%20Eliot%20L%2e A Doctor Looks to 2006 With Health Care His Issue] ". "New York Times". October 16, 2005.] Although gubernatorial candidates are free to name their running mates, candidates for Lieutenant Governor can still face a potential primary for the ballot line, resulting in unexpected outcomes, such as in 2002 when Carl McCall's running mate Charlie King was defeated by Andrew Cuomo's running mate Dennis Mehiel resulting in a McCall/Mehiel ticket, and Tom Golisano's choice William Neild was beaten by Mary Donohue resulting in Donohue being the running mate to both Golisano and George Pataki. [" [http://ipny.org/news02.html Independence Party News] ". "Independence Party of New York". September 29, 2002.] [McCaughey, Betsy. " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401EFDE1E31F937A2575AC0A9649C8B63 The Governor Doesn't Need a Lieutenant] ". "New York Times". September 14, 2002.]

A primary was averted when the front runner for Governor, Eliot Spitzer, named an undeclared candidate, Harlem State Senator David Paterson as his running mate, and Cohen and other candidates dropped out and quickly coalesced behind his choice.Hicks, Jonathan. " [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/nyregion/31lieutenant.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Lieutenant Governor Candidate Quits and Backs Spitzer] ". "New York Times". January 31, 2006.] Spitzer, also of New York City, defied the conventional wisdom by not choosing a lieutenant governor nominee from upstate or the suburbs to balance the ticket. [Cockfield Jr., Errol A. " [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stspitz244599513jan24,0,4998093.story Spitzer fills his ticket] ". "Newsday". June 9, 2004.] After exiting the race, Cohen endorsed Spitzer and Paterson and joined their campaign as an unpaid health care policy advisor. [Gardiner, Jill. " [http://www2.nysun.com/article/26732 Two Candidates Bow Out, Making Way For a Spitzer-Paterson Ticket] ". "New York Sun". January 31, 2006.]

Cohen's campaign was centered around the single issue of health care reform, and he referred to the health care system as "dysfunctional at every level." He proposed a solution universal health-insurance coverage linked to economic development, repeating his message that "Health care is a right, not a privilege", which he utilized during Sen. Kerry's 2004 campaign. [Cohen, Jon. " [http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2006/04/is_healthcare_an_individual_ri.html Is Healthcare an Individual Right or a Responsibility? The Massachusetts Universal Healthcare Plan] ". " [http://www.dmiblog.com/ Politics, Policy and the American Dream] ". April 2006.] He favored setting up an insurance pool backed by private carriers that would spread the risk of health care coverage, making it affordable for small businesses, as well as spearheading state led investment in biotechnology and stem cell research to foster job creation and medical innovation. Cohen further developed plans to cut fraud and waste from the Medicaid system, whom he blamed for ruining county budgets, stating, "What's happening is, there's too little money left for roads, for senior citizen programs and for schools."Benjamin, Elizabeth. " [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/03/paterson-taps-former-lg-rival.html Paterson Taps Former LG Rival To Serve As Sr. Advisor] ". "Daily News". March 27, 2008.]

enior advisor to Governor Paterson

In March 2008, Cohen was tapped as Senior Advisor to David Paterson, who had succeeded Spitzer as Governor of New York early in his term. [" [http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2008/03/24/daily34.html Gov. Paterson names senior adviser] ". " [http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/ The Business Review (Albany)] ". March 27, 2008.] Cohen left his position at PricewaterhouseCoopers to become Paterson's top advisor. [Paybarah, Azi. " [http://www.observer.com/2008/new-additions-patersons-team Paterson Hires Counsel, Senior Adviser] ". "New York Observer". March 27, 2008.] Several members of special interest groups, including health care unions, indicated the addition of Cohen to the Governor's staff signaled a softer approach on health policy then the Spitzer administration, a charge which Paterson's office rejected.

After Spitzer's election, Cohen had initially been considered for the posts of Commissioner of Health (head of the New York Department of Health), and Secretary for Health (the Governor's health policy advisor), although these positions eventually went to Richard F. Daines and Dennis P. Whalen. According to the Governor's office, Paterson's selection of Cohen does not affect either Daines or Whalen, and Cohen's role will be on policy issues as a "big picture guy".

References

Bibliography

* Cohen, Jon R. " [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0683020528 Vascular Surgery for the House Officer] ". New York: Williams & Wilkins. 1991. ISBN 0683020528.
* Cohen, Jon R. " [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1879702010 Vascular Surgery 2000] ". New York: R G Landes Co. 1992. ISBN 1879702010.