Education and a strong work ethic are the ticket: Honoree Dr. Laura Forese
Dr. Laura Forese, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian, is “so proud and appreciative” to have been selected as an Honoree of New York City’s 2017 Columbus Day Parade. She says, “It is such a thrill to take part in one of New York City’s largest parades, and it is an honor to be recognized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. I can’t wait to join Len and Tom as we march up Fifth Avenue.”
When asked which Columbus Day events she is most looking forward to, Dr. Forese says, “The whole weekend is beautifully put together and celebrates our heritage. I am delighted to be attending the Mass and the Gala, but the Parade will be the highlight. I mean, who gets to do that? My husband and father will be joining me. My only sadness if that my grandparents are not here to share this with me. Never in a million years would they have thought I would be marching in the Parade.”
Dr. Forese attributes her strong work ethic to her Italian-American heritage. “My grandparents, and then my parents, instilled in me, that in order to make it, you have to work really hard. My grandparents had almost no education, but had a tremendous appreciation of how important education is to improve your place in the world. Education is the ticket up,” she says.
She clearly took her grandparents’ advice. Dr. Forese graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University, and Alpha Omega Alpha from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. She also holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. She completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at the former Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (now NewYork-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Medical Center). Dr. Forese is responsible for achieving NewYork-Presbyterian’s operating targets, and implementing a patientcentered strategic vision and culture across the enterprise. NewYorkPresbyterian includes 10 campuses/ hospitals with more than 4,300 beds, 39,000 employees and $7.8 billion in revenue. Dr. Forese, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, has been a Columbia University faculty member since 1993. In addition, she is the Chairperson of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital Board and is a founding Board Member of the Matthew Larson Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
When asked about her Italian heritage, Dr. Forese says, “Italian-Americans are proud of being both Italian and American. I am so proud of the notion of coming to this country and being embraced. People can come to America, as my grandfather did as a teenager, and feel welcomed.” She notes that another area where ItalianAmericans are particularly welcoming is at the dinner table. “In my family, it’s always about the opportunity to get together with people over food, a glass of wine, and share discussions with family. Anyone who comes for a meal, then becomes part of the family.”
When asked her advice for young people, Dr. Forese says, “My upbringing included this notion of surrounding yourself at work and in personal life with people who share your values. That makes everything better, in the good times and tough.