Balavenkatesh Kanna takes helm of Brooklyn safety-net hospital

Dr. Balavenkatesh Kanna has been named chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, a safety-net hospital in Brooklyn. The appointment was announced by the hospital system on Tuesday.

Kanna previously served as the hospital's chief medical officer and brings more than two decades of experience in healthcare administration. He succeeds Dr. Gregory Calliste, who retired after leading the facility for several years.

The hospital, located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, provides care to a diverse and underserved population. Kanna said he plans to focus on expanding access to primary care and addressing health disparities in the community.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull is part of the city's public hospital system, which serves over one million patients annually. Kanna's tenure begins immediately.