Goldwater, Sigismund

Goldwater, Sigismund (Schulz) (1873–1942) hospital/public health administrator; born in New York City. His first studies were in sociology, economics, and political science, but he then earned an M.D. from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College (New York City) (1901). Appointed superintendent of Mt. Sinai Hospital (New York City) in 1903, he was one of the first medically trained hospital administrators in the U.S.A. He established Mt. Sinai's social service department in 1906 and introduced other reforms, and later he served as the director (1917–28). As commissioner of hospitals in New York City (1934–40), he completely reorganized and improved the municipal health system. He went on to direct the city's Blue Cross hospital insurance organization.