At the beginning of what was already a productive and potentially turbulent month, NYU Langone Health appointed a new Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Daniel J. Widawsky.

Widawsky’s hiring came just weeks before Langone announced that it would go tuition-free for students enrolled in its medical school. Many expected that Widawsky, as the man in charge of the money, would have been involved in such a big decision. However, when asked about the role he played in the decision making process, he said that the motion to go tuition-free had been part of a long-term effort.

“NYU School of Medicine’s decision to offer these scholarships, which underwrite tuition costs for all students enrolled in their M.D. degree program, has been in the works for the past 11 years,” Widawsky said. “While virtually all of the planning took place before my time here, I think it was essential to make this happen for our students and ultimately the benefit of our patients.”

When asked about what drew him to working at NYU, Widawsky cited the extraordinary growth experienced this summer at the school — which includes the opening of the brand new Kimmel Pavilion and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital.

Widawsky also noted an overall interest in working in health.

“I think this is a fascinating time to be in the healthcare sector,” Widawsky said. “I’m excited to be part of this leadership team as they continue to look for new opportunities to transform medical education, patient care and research.”

Widawsky’s career has spanned all reaches of the financial spectrum, including investment management, city government planning and tax law. He holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctorate from the Yale School of Law. He has served as the global tax director for General Electric’s Consumer Finance division, as head of Tax at NBC and as managing director at Citadel, one of the world’s leading alternative investment management firms.

Additionally, he was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as the Comptroller for the City of Chicago, a prestigious position tasked with overseeing the Department of Finance, where he led a team of 650 people. Most recently, Widawsky served as Director of EFO Capital Management, an investment management and consulting firm.

According to Widawsky, his new position at NYU Langone is alike in some ways, but he still has much to learn.

“In many ways it’s similar because the same financial principles still apply,” Widawsky said. “That said, it’s my first time working in an academic medical setting. Any time you enter a new sector, there is a learning curve as you get to know the nuances of the industry, and I was excited for the opportunity to take on this
new challenge.”

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Sept. 4 print edition. Email Deets Sharma at [email protected].