Jonnel Doris, CEO of StartCare, leads the nation’s oldest and largest minority-led healthcare organization, with seven community-based locations across New York. StartCare is a leader in addiction recovery, mental health services, and pioneering biomedical research, serving thousands of New Yorkers each year. Doris brings a wealth of public service experience to this role: he served as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services during COVID, was the founding Executive Director of the city’s Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises, and became New York State’s first Chief Diversity Officer following Superstorm Sandy, overseeing a $4.4 billion recovery effort.
Today, he carries forward the legacy of StartCare’s founder, Dr. Beny Primm, expanding its mission beyond medicine to include housing, job training, and community empowerment. Under his leadership, StartCare is addressing urgent needs in mental health, HIV/AIDS research, and equitable healthcare access for Black and Brown communities. Doris shares his immigration story, his path from government to healthcare, and his vision for reimagining community health and building a stronger future for all New Yorkers.