Laura Forese

As an undergrad at Princeton University, Forese majored in Civil Engineering and Operations Research, but retained an interest in studying medicine.[2][3] She graduated summa cum laude in 1983 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She went on to study at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in 1987, and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. At Columbia Presbyterian, she did her internship in general surgery and her residency in orthopedic surgery.[3]

In 1993, she joined Helen Hayes Hospital and later became chief of surgery and anesthesia services[3] She also continued as a faculty member at Columbia University.[4][5] She received a Master of Public Health in Health Services Management from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in 1995.[3] From 1998 to 2002, she was vice chair in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia.[5]

She joined NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2003 as the vice president of medical affairs.[4] In 2005, she became the chief medical officer and senior vice president, and in 2006 she was also appointed the role of chief operating officer.[5] In 2013, she became president of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.[6] In October 2015, following a reorganization of the group, she returned to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell as the executive vice president and chief operating officer.[7]

In 2019, Crain’s New York Business listed Forese at number 9 on their list of fifty Most Powerful Women in New York.[8]

In May 2022, Forese announced she was going to retire from her COO duties in June 2023.[4] She is to be succeeded by Brian Donley.[9] A 2019 salary survey indicated she was the second-highest compensated executive in the hospital with a salary of $5,286,445.[10]

In 2015, Forese joined the board of trustees at Princeton University, where she is serving an eight-year term.[11][12] She was also on the board of directors for Cantel Medical Corporation[13] prior to its acquisition by Steris. In 2016, a major restructuring at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, resulted in her appointment as chairman of their Research Hospital Board.[14][15]

In 2018, she joined the inaugural board for the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.[8][16] In 2021, she became a board member on the Shubert Organization which does theater production.[17] She also joined the board on medical treatments company Nereid Therapeutics.[15]

She married physician Robert Downey in 1988 when they were both residents at Presbyterian Hospital.[1] They have three children.[17] They lived in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.[18][3] In 2016, the American Cancer Society honored her as a Mother of the Year.[19]