Simply hours after The Submit revealed that burglars broke into Nassau College Medical Middle Chairman Matthew Bruderman’s residence and stole paperwork tied to a federal corruption probe, the county’s high official abruptly fired him.
Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman — who as soon as gave the impression to be aligned with Bruderman’s claims that the hospital was robbed of greater than $1 billion by state and prior county leaders since 2006 — pulled the plug on his three-year tenure late Thursday.
The county exec, who helped launch the federal investigation by assembly with FBI Director Kash Patel on Lengthy Island in early April, declined to say what brought about Bruderman’s firing, solely providing him nicely needs in his future endeavors.
“We thank Matt Bruderman for his service as Chairman of the Board of Nassau University Medical Center. Under his leadership, NUMC was able to reduce its deficits by significant margins and improve its ratings,” Blakeman advised The Submit.
Nassau’s Well being Commissioner, Dr. Irina Gelman, will substitute Bruderman, whose time period was initially set to run out in 2027.
Blakeman praised Gelman as “a healthcare professional who’s shown the highest level of professionalism throughout her career,” and referred to as her “uniquely certified to steer the NUMC board as each a member and its new chair.
Bruderman, who was unpaid in his place as chairman, advised The Submit he was shocked by his firing and is the sufferer of a political scandal.
“I was told if I didn’t resign today, like a coward, I would be removed. I was told [Gov.] Kathy Hochul wanted my head for exposing the corruption and previously supporting Lee Zeldin. I was told I don’t understand how powerful these people are and the lengths they would go to hurt me. I refused to resign and they had no choice but to remove me,” Bruderman advised The Submit.
“I fixed the hospital and exposed corruption and people buckled under the pressure,” he added.
Hochul’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The firing got here roughly 4 hours after The Submit reported Bruderman’s Oyster Bay residence had been damaged into, and that the one merchandise taken was a binder containing “sensitive” info associated to the continued federal investigation, together with paperwork and data tied to the monetary misconduct he claims to have uncovered whereas reviewing hospital funds.
The binder was later recovered by Middle Island police, who confirmed an lively investigation is underway, however refused to launch additional info or say whether or not anybody was arrested.
Regardless of all of it, Bruderman stated he was happy with the work he achieved whereas on the helm of the hospital and stated he stays dedicated to its mission.
Below his management, NUMC was on observe to revenue roughly $11 million this 12 months after being within the gap almost $200 million simply two years prior, in keeping with the general public company that runs it, NuHealth.
“I will shift my focus towards protecting the hospital, its staff and patients from afar. I will see that those responsible for corruption are held accountable and I will make sure it is there for generations to come,” Bruderman stated.
