Dr. Nasry Michelen Earns His Way— Co-Naming Street Ceremony

The Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez proudly invites the Hostos community to attend a street co-naming ceremony to honor the legacy of Dr. Nasry Michelen on Thursday, October 15, at 12 p.m.

Dr. Michelen was an inspirational and visionary medical professional and community leader for social and health care justice to generations of Dominicans in New York City.

The northwest center corner of West 166th Street and Audubon Av. will be co-named Dr. Nasry Michelen Way.

About Dr. Nasry Michelen

Dr. Nasry Michelen was born in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, into a distinguished family. He received his initial schooling in the Dominican Republic but obtained his medical degree at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He married Ms. Marie Armaly and established a practice as a surgeon in Bethlehem, Palestine.

He returned to his native country a few years later, where he practiced in San Juan's public hospital system. His administrative skills and acumen won him recognition from the Minister of Health, who awarded him a scholarship to obtain his Master's in Public Health at Columbia University in New York City. Upon his return from studying, he was appointed Superintendent of Hospitals during President Trujillo's dictatorship.

Dr. Michelen was a fierce critic of the Trujillo regime and rose as a leader of the opposition to the new government formed after Trujillo's death. The government's persecution was such that he was forced to leave the country along with his family, which by now comprised of his wife and three sons. He returned to New York City where he was appointed Associate Director of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens and later Executive Director of Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, becoming the first Latino and Dominican in the State of New York to be Executive Director of a hospital.

As Executive Director of Lincoln Hospital, Dr. Michelen recruited a cadre of Latino physicians to the medical staff in an effort to provide culturally appropriate care and better serve the predominantly Latino population of the South Bronx. He successfully advocated for the building of a new Lincoln Hospital at 149th St. and Grand Concourse. He also formed part of a group of community activists that fought for better services in the South Bronx.

In 1968, Dr. Michelen became a founding member of Eugenio María de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York (CUNY) and served as its first President. Hostos' focus was to train a cadre of healthcare para-professionals to serve the South Bronx and other underserved areas. His dream was that one day Hostos would become a medical school.

Dr. Michelen presided as Executive Director of the Regional Medical Program in Delaware, as Director of the Division of Hospital Accreditation of the New York State Department of Health, and as Professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. During his tenure, he made it a priority to strongly advocate for patients. He was responsible, among other achievements, for helping establish the Department of Health's requirement that all hospitals post the Patient's Bill of Rights in a visible location. 

Dr. Michelen founded and led numerous Dominican organizations, including the Dominican Medical Society in New York, where he also served as President, Asociaciones Dominicanas, and Alianza Dominicana, among others. He was one of the founding members and the first Grand Marshall of the Dominican Day Parade. He was most proud of his three sons, seven grandsons, and four great-grandchildren, who carry on his tradition. His beloved wife passed away in 2016.

Today, a Foundation carrying the name of Dr. Michelen continues his legacy by providing scholarships to underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in the Allied Health sciences. "Dr Nasry Michelen Day Care Center " in New York City’s Hamilton Heights also carries on the work of this visionary leader.