Bio – Calandra Y Branch, MBA, FACHE

Calandra Y. Branch is a Senior Director of Network Operations at the Mount Sinai Health System, with responsibility for the operational, financial, facility and human resource functions of the Mount Sinai Doctors’ practices in Nassau County. She joined the System in 2018 as Deputy Director of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Prior to Mount Sinai, she spent the first 26 years of her career at NewYork Presbyterian.

 Calandra has over 30 years of leadership experience in healthcare, including responsibility for creating and executing short and long-term strategic, financial and technological objectives. Throughout her career, she has served in clinical operations, finance, practice management and strategic planning roles.

 Calandra holds a Master of Business Administration from Adelphi University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hofstra University, where she currently serves as an Adjunct Professor and member of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing Advisory Board, member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, member of the Women in Leadership Advisory Board, and member of the Black Faculty Council. She is board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a member of the National Association of Health Service Executives. A career mentor and public speaker on leadership and patient-centered care, Calandra is a Certified John C. Maxwell leadership coach, trainer and speaker, and hosts the Lessons in Leadership podcast, which explores various topics around leadership development, mentoring and coaching. Calandra has been a regular guest lecturer for both the Sloan Program for Health Administration at Cornell University, and the School of Management at Pace University. She was also an Adjunct Instructor of Leadership, Professionalism and Ethics for the Master of Health Administration program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

 “Leadership is about being yourself and continually learning and growing as a leader. What inspires me to lead is the commitment to lifelong learning and the ability to mentor and coach future leaders. My leadership philosophy is this: I don’t seek status, but instead strive to have a story to tell. Status impresses, but a story inspires. I’d rather inspire someone to create their own success than just impress them with mine.”