Roker ’92 Named CEO in NYC Health, Hospital Network

As a student, Christopher Roker ’92 joined a SUNY Oswego fraternity to find interesting people and make great memories.

He found both—and discovered a lifelong affinity for giving back to the community, too.

“Phi Beta Sigma completed my college experience,” said Roker, a public relations major. “Our chapter, Rho Xi, was very collaborative with the college through service, fundraising and student senate.”

Today, Roker is a member of the fraternity’s Beta Psi Sigma chapter. He’s still maintaining the core value of “Culture for Service, Service for Humanity” that was such an integral part of his undergraduate years.

“We do a lot of work with youth,” Roker said. “I believe in mentorship, and giving and reaching back to help those who need help and want to reach their goals.”

Roker, who was introduced to the SUNY Oswego campus by his brother Al Roker ’76, in September joined NYC Health + Hospitals as its chief executive officer. He is a part of a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes and post-acute care centers. This new role is one in a fruitful career of high-level administrative health and hospital roles.

Roker spent more than three years at The MetroHealth System in Ohio, first serving as vice president of surgical care and perioperative services and then serving as senior vice president and chief hospitals administrative officer. He was responsible for overseeing inpatient hospital services and departments.

He previously held leadership positions at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan and The Parkway Hospital Queens.

But Roker’s road to success was not clearly carved when he left SUNY Oswego.

“I just didn’t know what I wanted to do, like so many others coming out of school,” he said. “I learned there is a benefit to surrounding yourself with a strong network, friends and connections from Oswego, and those who you meet in your professional life.”

Perhaps his strongest “connection” from SUNY Oswego is his wife, Latice Hardy-Roker ’90, whom he met on campus and who he said has supported and encouraged him ever since they met.

Roker reflects on his days at Oswego with high praise.

“Oswego taught me what it takes to be a successful professional, and I’ve held onto that lesson since the day I left campus,” he said. “I would put an Oswego education up there with the best of them for the subject matter expertise, campus life experience and lifelong friends.”

—Eileen Crandall

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