Dr. Adam Aponte serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Council. He is a Board-Certified Pediatrician with over 25 years of experience in the health field. Dr. Aponte is a dedicated health professional with two professional passions: serving the underserved and addressing the many health disparities and health inequities they face, and increasing the diversity of the health care workforce. Dr. Aponte has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career in various settings including Academia working on increasing diversity at both Mt. Sinai Medical School and the Zucker School of Medicine, Hospital Administration serving as Chair of Pediatrics and then Medical Director of Ambulatory Care at North General Hospital, Managed Care serving as Medical Director for United Healthcare and Community Health serving as Chief Medical Officer at BMS Family Health Center and then at Boriken. He is a strong advocate for his community of East Harlem. Dr. Aponte assumed the role of CEO in October of 2023 after serving as CMO. In this role, Dr. Aponte hopes to truly impact the health of the entire East Harlem community and create a new model for health care delivery, providing “whole person care.” Dr. Aponte received his Bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York and then went on to Mount Sinai School of Medicine for his MD and Residency in Pediatrics.
Dr. Monica Suarez serves as the Chief Medical Officer. She is a Board-Certified Internal Medicine Primary Care Physician with over a decade of experience. Passionate about healthcare equity, Dr. Suarez has spent her career focusing on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to diverse, deserving, and underserved communities. Dr. Suarez oversees all clinical activities and healthcare services offered within the Boriken Neighborhood Health Center and other East Harlem Council programs. Dr. Suarez serves as the Risk Manager, Quality Assurance / Performance Improvement Committee Co-Chair, and Patient Safety / Infection Control Committee Co-Chair. She supports the health center’s maintenance of Patient-Centered Medical Home accreditation, compliance with HRSA’s Health Center Program regulatory requirements, and adherence to FTCA deeming requirements. Dr. Suarez received her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and then went on to medical school at Temple University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at George Washington University.
Angelina Cruize is the Council’s Chief Employee Experience Officer. Mrs. Cruize has over 15 years of experience and is responsible for all Human Resources Department functions, including but not limited to total rewards: benefits and compensation management; employee and labor relations; workforce planning; organizational development and change management; performance management, career development and training; federal, state and city labor law compliance, outside regulatory agency compliance (OSHA, EEO, etc.), corporate compliance; HRIS; TQM and strategic planning. Mrs. Cruize has her Masters in Human Resources Development from Villanova University. She is also certified through the Human Resources Certification Institute (PHR).
Ahmed Abedo is the Council’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Abedo oversees the Council’s financial health and oversees the Financial, Billing, and Purchasing departments. Mr. Abedo received his B.A. in Accounting and Finance from Egypt and his CPA license from California. He is a highly skilled professional with expertise in profit and nonprofit finance and auditing. Throughout his career, he has worked as a CFO for multiple healthcare organizations with over thirteen years of experience. He joined the East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc. in November 2019.
Daniel Ramirez serves as the Council’s Chief Operating Officer and Compliance Officer. Daniel has over 30 years of experience in the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) sector and the health center movement. He oversees health center operations, school-based health centers, senior nutrition program, and compliance. Daniel is passionate about helping underserved communities and advancing the mission of FQHCs. He is deeply committed to focusing on improving healthcare access, operational efficiency, and financial stewardship while ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations. Daniel leads initiatives to enhance service delivery, reduce risks, drive innovation and maintain a strong compliance framework to support the organization’s mission.
