Luis R. Marcos was born in Seville, Spain (1943). He was a hyperactive child, but thanks to the insistence of his mother he applied his excess of energy to playing drums in a rock music quartet. Immediately after graduating from Seville University Medical School (1967), he immigrated to New York City where he completed his residency training in Psychiatry at New York University(NYU) and Bellevue Hospital Center (1972).
In 1972, he was granted by the United States’ National Institute of Health a three-year Fellowship Research Award for the study of communication of bilingual mentally ill persons, which resulted in several ground breaking publications.
In 1975 he became Chief of the NYU/Bellevue Psychiatric Research Unit, New York. From 1977 until 1981, Dr. Marcos was Director of Psychiatry at Gouverneur Hospital in New York.
Board certified in Psychiatry (1974), in 1977 he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Medical Science by the State University of New York, at Downstate Heath Sciences Center.
In 1975 he became Chief of the NYU/Bellevue Psychiatric Research Unit, New York. From 1977 until 1981, Dr. Marcos was Director of Psychiatry at Gouverneur Hospital in New York.
Board certified in Psychiatry (1974), in 1977 he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Medical Science by the State University of New York, at Downstate Heath Sciences Center.
In 1981, New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch appointed Dr. Marcos Director of psychiatric and prison health services of the City’s Health and Hospitals Corporation, the largest public hospital system in the United States.
While serving in this position, Dr. Marcos was instrumental in the creation of Project HELP (Homeless Emergency Liaison Project), the first mobile medical/psychiatric unit with the mission of evaluating and hospitalizing seriously mentally ill homeless persons, living on the streets, who by reason of their mental illness were at risk of serious physical harm.
In 1992, Mayor David N. Dinkins named him Commissioner of the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services. During his tenure, the Department created the first five culturally competent mental health centers for the Hispanic, Asian, Caribbean and Russian inmigrant populations of the City.
While serving in this position, Dr. Marcos was instrumental in the creation of Project HELP (Homeless Emergency Liaison Project), the first mobile medical/psychiatric unit with the mission of evaluating and hospitalizing seriously mentally ill homeless persons, living on the streets, who by reason of their mental illness were at risk of serious physical harm.
In 1992, Mayor David N. Dinkins named him Commissioner of the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services. During his tenure, the Department created the first five culturally competent mental health centers for the Hispanic, Asian, Caribbean and Russian inmigrant populations of the City.
Under his leadership, the Department also developed the successful youth violence prevention program Choose to de-fuse.
In 1995, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani selected Dr. Marcos for President and Chief Executive of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC).
The Corporation is responsible for delivering public health services and operating the eleven general hospitals, six long-term care facilities and multiple ambulatory care centers throughout the City.
It serves about two million patients annually, has a workforce of 43,000 individuals, and an annual budget of $5 billion.
In 1995, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani selected Dr. Marcos for President and Chief Executive of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC).
The Corporation is responsible for delivering public health services and operating the eleven general hospitals, six long-term care facilities and multiple ambulatory care centers throughout the City.
It serves about two million patients annually, has a workforce of 43,000 individuals, and an annual budget of $5 billion.
From 1996 through 2000 HHC achieved financial stability and showed positive balances for the first time ever in its 27-year history. As a result, Wall Street investment companies improved HHC’s ratings, and several hospitals –Bellevue, Kings County, Queens, Jacobi and Coney Island- were rebuilt or extensively renovated.
Member of the City’s Emergency Management, Dr. Marcos was on the front line during the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
He has been the longest serving President of the Corporation (1995-2002).
From 2003 to 2007, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) and Chair of its Quality Committee. CHW is a 23 hospital system in California, Nevada and Arizona.
Member of the City’s Emergency Management, Dr. Marcos was on the front line during the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
He has been the longest serving President of the Corporation (1995-2002).
From 2003 to 2007, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) and Chair of its Quality Committee. CHW is a 23 hospital system in California, Nevada and Arizona.
Dr. Marcos is currently a tenured Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director for Hospitals Affiliations at New York University School of Medicine.
He is also a member of the New York State Education Department Board of Medicine, a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Fellow of The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
In March 2008 he was appointed by the State legislant to the New York State Palliative Care Education and Training Council.
Dr. Marcos has published extensively in English and Spanish in the areas of public health and cultural psychiatry.
He is also a member of the New York State Education Department Board of Medicine, a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Fellow of The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
In March 2008 he was appointed by the State legislant to the New York State Palliative Care Education and Training Council.
Dr. Marcos has published extensively in English and Spanish in the areas of public health and cultural psychiatry.
He has contributed extensively to the study of the language and cultural barriers of mentally ill immigrants, the special needs of the urban homeless population, and the development of public health policy.
In addition, Dr. Marcos regularly collaborates with Spanish institutions devoted to social and public health issues. He has published several bestseller books on current psychosocial subjects in the Spanish language (e.g., The Seeds of Violence, Our Happiness, Beyond September 11th, The Force of Optimism, Self-esteem, and Living Together).
He has co-authored with Dr. Valentin Fuster Heart and Mind.
Luis R. Marcos has four children. His hobbies include playing the piano, the guitar and drums; writing essays in Spanish; and running the New York City Marathon (he has run it 17 consecutive times).
In addition, Dr. Marcos regularly collaborates with Spanish institutions devoted to social and public health issues. He has published several bestseller books on current psychosocial subjects in the Spanish language (e.g., The Seeds of Violence, Our Happiness, Beyond September 11th, The Force of Optimism, Self-esteem, and Living Together).
He has co-authored with Dr. Valentin Fuster Heart and Mind.
Luis R. Marcos has four children. His hobbies include playing the piano, the guitar and drums; writing essays in Spanish; and running the New York City Marathon (he has run it 17 consecutive times).