2024 UHF Gala Journal - Flipbook - Page 11
“Community organizations and community partners are the front lines as much
in New York, as in every country where JSI works. And we need to ask ourselves:
are we listening to their needs? And are we shifting power to them to drive the
agenda?”
Margaret’s husband, Rory Riggs, shares her commitment to finding sustainable
solutions to complex problems in health care. As an executive, entrepreneur, and
venture capitalist in the worlds of biotechnology and health care, he has been the
co-founder, chairman, and director of cutting-edge companies, including Royalty
Pharma, Fibrogen, Sugen, GeneNews, and Cibus.
Rory sums up his consequential career as “finding really interesting technologies
that are making changes in health care.” What makes him most proud is that each
of these technologies “has made a material change.” For example, at Sugen, it
was the first kinase-based cancer therapeutic solution. At Biomatrix Inc., it was
pioneering Synvisc as a biological device to ease knee pain caused by
osteoarthritis.
At Cibus, he is overseeing the development of proprietary gene-editing technologies
to develop plant traits in seeds. “To move on from GMO technology,” he explains,
“and make changes that are indistinguishable from what happens in nature.”
The upshot? These technologies can help mitigate climate change effects, making
agriculture more sustainable and efficient, Rory says. “So, your crops are more
efficient, and we have lowered the use of chemicals in the global food supply.”
Margaret’s diverse career also includes leading roles in the private sector, including
seven years at EF Education and a stint at McKinsey & Co. in Indonesia. In addition
to Northwell, her other volunteer leadership roles include board service at Open
Medical Institute, City University School of Public Health, ACCESS Health
International, and United Hospital Fund.
In all these positions, she’s clear-eyed about her role and her goals.
“It’s about how you want to show up in the world, which also means acknowledging
our privilege,” she says. “What ties my work together is an effort to define, measure,
and address disparities in health and education access and outcomes. And to make
even a small dent, we must recognize the roles of oppressive policies, and we must
shift power to advance equity.”
Margaret and Rory have made more than a dent over three decades supporting
solutions for those who need them most.
For a sustained commitment to equity and to tackling complex challenges in
health and health care, United Hospital Fund is proud to present Margaret Crotty
and Rory Riggs with its 2024 Health Care Leadership Award.
