Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Urban Health Plan, one of New York State’s largest networks of community health centers. With visionary leadership, Paloma has dedicated her career to expanding access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and addressing health disparities in underserved communities.
Under her guidance, Urban Health Plan has grown from a single health center in the South Bronx to a comprehensive network of twelve federally qualified health centers across the Bronx, Central Harlem, and Corona, Queens. The organization also includes twelve school-based health centers and two mental health facilities, collectively serving over 89,000 patients annually. In addition to healthcare, Urban Health Plan provides a range of grant-funded social service programs and WIC services.
Paloma’s commitment to empowering her community is reflected in her efforts to meet its basic needs and help individuals achieve their full potential for optimal health. She has led Urban Health Plan in offering an array of social service programs and spearheading community development projects that tackle essential social drivers of health, such as food insecurity, housing, and job readiness.
Building on the visionary work of her father, Dr. Richard “Doc” Izquierdo, founder of Urban Health Plan, Paloma has also been a strong advocate for education. In 2010, she played a key role in advancing the establishment of the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School, a project that fulfilled one of her father’s lifelong dreams. The school aims to bridge educational gaps and has achieved impressive college acceptance rates since its opening while preparing a new generation for careers in healthcare.
Furthering her holistic approach to community well-being, Paloma led the integration of the Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation into the Urban Health Plan in 2015. This subsidiary focuses on local business and workforce development, sustainability, and transportation, reinforcing her commitment to fostering health and economic stability in the community.
Her leadership has cultivated a culture of patient-centered care and teamwork, propelling Urban Health Plan to achieve top-quartile performance in clinical measures in 2022 and distinguishing it as a high-performing health center.
Raised in the Bronx, Paloma holds an M.A. in Speech Pathology from Columbia University’s Teachers College, an M.P.H. from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, and honorary doctoral degrees from Boston College and Metropolitan College of New York. She is an active member of several local and regional boards and currently chairs the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
In May 2024, her contributions were recognized when she was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame and received the “People’s Choice Award in Healthcare.” In her remarks, Paloma noted, “Opportunities for people of color aren’t always equal. I want to be a role model for others. In this role, I can pave the way and show young people that if I can do it, they can too.”
