NYC’s first chief equity officer in public health steps down

New York City’s first-ever chief equity officer Dr. Torian Easterling announced this week that he is stepping down.

Easterling, who spent more than seven years at the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, was appointed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in September 2020, shortly after the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis spurred widespread protests.

Last year, the city passed a resolution that designated racism a public health crisis and outlined nine steps for the New York City Board of Health to take to achieve health equity. Easterling will continue in his role until the end of September.

Easterling sat down with WNYC’s Sean Carlson to discuss what he has accomplished during his time in city government and the road ahead for improving health equity in New York City.

Click "listen" in the player to hear their conversation.