Ashwin Vasan
WSB Exclusive Speaker
Former New York City Health Commissioner; Operating Partner, Commonweal Ventures; Senior Fellow in Health Policy and Global Affairs, Yale University

Dr. Ashwin Vasan is a visionary health innovator who helps organizations navigate today’s toughest challenges, from healthy longevity and prevention to mental health and resilience, healthcare reform and affordability, and responsibly leveraging AI for strategic advantage.
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As a distinguished physician, epidemiologist, and global health leader, Dr. Ashwin Vasan helps organizations and institutions navigate complex challenges by blending frontline crisis management, cutting-edge data analytics, and an inclusive vision for the future of health. His career, from serving as Commissioner of New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to serving as President and CEO of Fountain House, one of the nation's leading mental health nonprofits, demonstrates his track record of delivering impactful results across large-scale organizations.
Drawing on more than a decade with Partners In Health and the World Health Organization, where he helped advance global HIV/AIDS treatment initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa and India, Dr. Vasan provides a forward-looking perspective on global pandemic preparedness, climate resilience, chronic disease prevention, and the transformative power of AI. He also champions healthy longevity as an organizing principle for shaping society's future, providing a blueprint for organizations and communities to thrive across evolving demographic and economic landscapes.
Dr. Vasan's impact and expertise extend well beyond traditional health-related fields. As an Operating Partner at Commonweal Ventures, an early-stage venture fund working at the intersection of government and technology, he advises founders and organizations across health care, public policy, and innovation. Building on his background in government, nonprofits, academia, and venture capital, he addresses broader leadership, innovation, and strategic planning issues that resonate with any industry facing disruption. By imparting clarity, foresight, and practical tactics, he empowers audiences to excel in a rapidly evolving environment.
Why Your Audience Will Benefit from Hosting Dr. Vasan:
- Visionary Global Leadership: Dr. Vasan offers a global perspective, bridging policy, medicine, technology, and social impact.
- Convergence of Health & Innovation: He guides audiences on how AI, data analytics, and strategic foresight in health can translate into organizational success.
- Concrete Action Plans: Presentations deliver real-world examples and tailored strategies that leaders can immediately apply to enhance operations and impact.
- Inspirational, Results-Oriented Approach: Attendees leave with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with tools to forge healthier teams, communities, and business ecosystems.
Featured Videos

Ashwin Vasan’s Speech Topics
The Human Side of High Performance
Even the most committed teams can become too depleted to do their best work. How do leaders sustain performance without treating exhaustion as the price of commitment?
As New York City’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan led nearly 7,000 employees through successive public health crises. Drawing on that experience and his work as a physician and former CEO of Fountain House, a national mental health nonprofit, he explores how leaders can maintain high expectations without exhausting the people responsible for meeting them.
Audiences will learn to:
- Recognize strain and respond early: Spot early signs of burnout and distress, drawing on Vasan’s clinical experience and mental health leadership, so leaders can respond with appropriate support rather than simply asking people to push through.
- Communicate under pressure: Explain difficult decisions, acknowledge uncertainty, and give people clear direction when circumstances change.
- Build resilience into how teams work: Adjust priorities, resources, and expectations when demands exceed capacity, rather than relying on individual endurance.
Healthier People, Stronger Organizations: The Strategic Advantage of Investing in Workforce Well-Being
Dr. Ashwin Vasan makes a compelling case that prioritizing employee health isn’t just an ethical responsibility, it’s a cornerstone of strategic business success. Backed by proven methodologies, he outlines how organizations can proactively foster healthier, more engaged teams, leading to better retention, higher performance, and sustainable growth.
The AI Advantage: Harnessing Data for Strategic Decision-Making
Drawing on his experience in health leadership and crisis management, Dr. Ashwin Vasan reveals how AI and data analytics can transform decision-making. Audiences learn practical ways to employ emerging technologies, mitigate risks, and capitalize on opportunities, staying ahead in an increasingly data-driven world.
Leading Through Disruption: Cultivating Organizational and Community Resilience
From pandemic preparedness to global leadership challenges, Dr. Ashwin Vasan shares a framework for building resilience. He highlights how agility, empathy, and partnership can fortify organizations against volatility, fostering both immediate and long-term gains.
Connected Teams, Stronger Results: How Combating Workplace Loneliness Drives Performance
Isolation and loneliness cost organizations productivity and engagement. With insights from health research and real-world interventions, Dr. Ashwin Vasan offers practical steps for boosting employee connection and morale, showing how stronger interpersonal bonds lead to measurable success.
Healthy Longevity: The Future of Health for Individuals, Communities, and Businesses
Dr. Ashwin Vasan reveals how prioritizing healthy longevity can be a game-changer for today’s leading organizations. In this forward-looking talk, he connects the dots between workforce well-being, strategic innovation, and long-term organizational growth, offering data-driven insights that go beyond traditional health measures. Attendees learn how to implement actionable, sustainable strategies that reduce costs and boost engagement.
What other organizations say about Ashwin Vasan
Thank you to Dr. Ashwin Vasan for sharing his wisdom and experience, and for encouraging our attendees to be courageous torchbearers for mental health!
Business Conferences / Audiences
Featured News
Devex
What comes after global health's golden age?
22 September, 2026
Clinton Foundation
How AI Is Quietly Reshaping Healthcare with Dr. Ashwin Vasan
30 July, 2026
Apple Podcasts
How to Not Waste the Healthcare Crisis
8 January, 2026
Yale School of Public Health
Distinguished public health leader joins YSPH
8 September, 2025
Think Global Health
Retreat from Global HIV Fight Puts U.S. Health At Risk
19 March, 2025
Foreign Policy
Cities Are the Canaries in the Public Health Coal Mine
19 March, 2025
Think Global Health
Climate and Health: Global Problems, Local Solutions
19 March, 2025
Harvard T.H. Chan
A path forward for public health: A conversation with former NYC health commissioner Ashwin Vasan
19 March, 2025
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