Jon Cohen 5383769 221716583 2008-06-25T19:39:52Z Geniac 1839933 Disambiguate [[Daily News]] to [[Daily News (New York)]] using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]] '''Jon R. Cohen''' is an [[United States|American]] [[vascular surgeon]] and [[politician]] from [[Lake Success, New York|Lake Success]], [[New York]]. He is currently the Chief policy advisor to [[Governor of New York]] [[David Paterson]]. Cohen had been a 2006 [[Democratic Party (United States)|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 [[John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004|presidential campaign]] of [[Massachusetts]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[John Kerry]], and filled a similar role in the [[New York gubernatorial election, 2006|gubernatorial]] campaigns of [[Eliot Spitzer]] in 2006 and [[H. Carl McCall]] in 2002. Prior to joining the [[Government of New York|executive chamber]], he practiced medicine in [[Nassau County, New York|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|Columbia University’s]] [[Mailman School of Public Health]], has published over 100 peer-reviewed professional articles and authored [[#Bibliography|two books]]. ==Medical career and background== Cohen graduated from the University of [[Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine|Miami School of Medicine]] and completed his residency in surgery at [[New York Presbyterian Hospital]]/[[Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University|Weill Cornell Medical Center]].<ref name="gov"/> He later trained in [[vascular surgery]] at the [[Brigham and Women's Hospital]] at [[Harvard Medical School]] in [[Boston]].<ref name="nyt1"/> 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.<ref>"[http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20080328-4.html Patterson announces two more appointments]". ''[http://www.empirestatenews.net Empire State News].'' [[March 27]], [[2008]].</ref> 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.<ref name ="gov">"[http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_0327081.html Governor Paterson announces administration appointment]". ''[[New York State]]''. [[March 27]], [[2008]].</ref> 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.<ref name="nyt3"/> 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.<ref name="nyt1">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]].</ref><ref name="jn1">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]].</ref> ==2006 campaign for Lieutenant Governor of New York== {{seealso|Lieutenant Governor of New York#2006 Election|Health care reform in the United States}} In 2005, Cohen announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]].<ref name="nyt1"/> His platform centered on health care and health policy issues.<ref name="jn1"/> Cohen raised more than $500,000 for his election bid.<ref>"[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]].</ref> He was viewed as front runner in the race which included [[New York State Assembly|State Assemblyman]] [[Thomas DiNapoli]], [[Wappinger, New York|Wappinger]] [[Town supervisor]] [[Joe Ruggiero]], and [[Leecia Eve]], an aide to Sen. [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref name="nyt3">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]].</ref> 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 [[New York gubernatorial election, 2002|2002]] when Carl McCall's running mate [[Charlie King]] was defeated by [[Andrew Cuomo|Andrew Cuomo's]] running mate [[Dennis Mehiel]] resulting in a McCall/Mehiel ticket, and [[B. Thomas Golisano|Tom Golisano's]] choice [[William Neild]] was beaten by [[Mary Donohue]] resulting in Donohue being the running mate to both Golisano and [[George Pataki]].<ref>"[http://ipny.org/news02.html Independence Party News]". ''[[Independence Party of New York]]''. [[September 29]], [[2002]].</ref><ref>McCaughey, Betsy. "[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401EFDE1E31F937A2575AC0A9649C8B63 The Governor Doesn't Need a Lieutenant]". ''[[New York Times]]''. [[September 14]], [[2002]].</ref> 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.<ref name="nyt2">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]].</ref> 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.<ref>Cockfield Jr., Errol A. "[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stspitz244599513jan24,0,4998093.story Spitzer fills his ticket]". ''[[Newsday]]''. [[June 9]], [[2004]].</ref> After exiting the race, Cohen endorsed Spitzer and Paterson and joined their campaign as an unpaid health care policy advisor.<ref>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]].</ref> 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."<ref name="nyt3"/> 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.<ref>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.</ref> 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.<ref name="nyt3"/> 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."<ref name="ben1">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 (New York)|Daily News]]''. [[March 27]], [[2008]].</ref> ==Senior advisor to Governor Paterson== In March of 2008, Cohen was tapped as Senior Advisor to David Paterson, who had succeeded Spitzer as Governor of New York early in his term.<ref>"[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]].</ref> Cohen left his position at PricewaterhouseCoopers to become Paterson's top advisor.<ref>Paybarah, Azi. "[http://www.observer.com/2008/new-additions-patersons-team Paterson Hires Counsel, Senior Adviser]". ''[[New York Observer]]''. [[March 27]], [[2008]].</ref> 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.<ref name="ben1"/> 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]].<ref name="ben1"/> 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".<ref name="jn1"/><ref name="ben1"/> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Bibliography== * Cohen, Jon R. ''[http://www.amazon.com/Vascular-Surgery-House-Officer-Cohen/dp/0683020528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206829611&sr=8-1 Vascular Surgery for the House Officer]''. New York: Williams & Wilkins. 1991. ISBN 0683020528. * Cohen, Jon R. ''[http://www.amazon.com/Vascular-Surgery-Report-Xanthus-Intelligence/dp/1879702010/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206829671&sr=1-2 Vascular Surgery 2000]''. New York: R G Landes Co. 1992. ISBN 1879702010. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Jon R.}} [[Category:New York politicians]] [[Category:New York elections, 2006]] [[Category:New York Democrats]] [[Category:American surgeons]] [[Category:University of Miami alumni]] [[Category:Harvard University alumni]] [[Category:Year of birth missing]] [[Category:State cabinet secretaries of New York]] [[Category:People from Long Island]] [[Category:American Jews]] [[Category:David Paterson]]