24. John F. Collins

Collins has led Mineola-based Winthrop-University Hospital since 2009 and its acquisition of 24 practices spread across 40 locations with more than 115 physicians from Shelter Island to Queens. After starting as chief financial officer 15 years ago, he has proven most adept at surgically navigating the health-care system through its most challenging emergency room patient yet: the bleeding economy—not to mention the spreading side effects of national health-care reform. His vital signs include being ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Metro Area Rankings for 10 high-performing specialties, including having one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology.