NuHealth board unanimously fires NUMC President Victor Politi

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Victor Politi was fired from his position as president and chief operating officer of Nassau University Medical Center after a unanimous decision made by the NuHelath board of directors, which oversees the East Meadow hospital.

The move took place late on April 18 following a three-hour board of directors meeting, from which Politi was barred, according to his attorney Ronald Rosenberg. At the time, Politi was under the impression that he would be transferred to another department at the hospital. He had no prior knowledge of his upcoming termination.

“It was a violation of due process and common standards of decency and fairness,” Rosenberg said, adding that the board gave Politi no reason or explanation for his firing and denied him severance.

The NuHealth Board of Directors declined comment on the nature of Politi’s firing, but said in a prepared statement that Politi was being replaced by Chief Medical Officer Paul Pipia.

Politi began his tenure as president and CEO of NUMC in January 2014 after a unanimous decision was made by the then-board of directors. At the time, Politi was serving as acting police commissioner, a position that was later filled by Thomas Krumpter, who was appointed by then-County Executive Ed Mangano.

Politi has also served as a Nassau County police surgeon and as Deputy Nassau County Executive of Public Safety where he oversaw the Nassau County Department of Health and the Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office.

In August 2017, the NuHealth board renewed Politi’s contract, worth $368,000 annually, through the end of 2019— a decision that received criticism by Laura Curran leading up to her election as county executive. At the time, she also accused the board of hiring a number of employees because of their political ties.

Michael Mirotznik, former chairman of the board of directors, unexpectedly resigned in January and Curran hired George Tsunis to fill the role, saying that he could “right the ship” with the hospital.

Curran declined comment on Politi’s firing.

Rosenberg said that he and Politi are contemplating what legal action to take to “enforce [Politi’s] rights and interests.”