We work to improve health & wellness outcomes in our community.

Sandra Piggee has served the marginalized and Catholic communities of NYC for the past 50 years. Starting her career at Catholic Charities, she then moved on to the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine as Assistant Director of Senior Services. After leaving the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Ms. Piggee worked for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for 35 years as a Special Consultant II, supporting agencies providing mental health and cognitive disability services to vulnerable New Yorkers.

In addition to her professional service, Ms. Piggee has worked tirelessly in her community and church, serving on the St. Charles Borromeo (Harlem, NY) Parish Council and leading the Lazarus Bereavement Committee. She is a founding board member of Bronx Community Health Network, and for the past 15 years has served on the Montefiore Comprehensive Health Care Center Community Advisory Board (CHCC-CAB).

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Ms. Piggee is a lifelong resident of Harlem and the Bronx and the proud mother of two sons, Tracy and Javier. She received her BA in Sociology from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and her Masters Degree in Social Work from New York University.

Marjorie A. Cadogan is Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Human Resources Administration's Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access (HRA/OCHIA). HRA/OCHIA works to connect New York City residents and small business owners to coverage and care. In collaboration with a broad network of partners, the Office delivers outreach, education and training on public and private health insurance. HRA/OCHIA also coordinates an enrollment initiative that lets New Yorkers get insured at city agency offices and events throughout the five boroughs. Engaged in policy research and analysis to inform its efforts and help improve access to coverage for all New Yorkers, HRA/OCHIA provides timely health insurance information to residents and small businesses through its website, NYC Health Insurance Link, and print materials.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Cadogan worked at the Primary Care Development Corporation and served in a variety of legal positions at the NYC Law Department, NYC Loft Board and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Project Guardianship as their Treasurer, and serves on the Community Leadership Board for the Greater New York Chapter of the American Diabetes Association.

John Ruiz has served the families and children of New York State for 36 years, including three years with the New York City Board of Education.

Mr. Ruiz is a graduate of State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College with a Bachelor of Art in Labor Studies. He has certifications in Industrial Labor Management Relations from Cornell University and Conflict Resolution from Long Island University.

As a union activist, he held elected leadership positions with the NYS Public Employees Federation, one of the largest professional unions in the country.

As an Executive Board and Council leader, he insured that the conditions and rights of employment of his constituency were not infringed upon. He provided representation at hearings before the NYS Workers' Compensation Board and in all matters before Labor Administrative hearings.

Mr. Ruiz is married, with one son and two grandchildren, Kayla and John-Martin, all living in the Bronx.

BCHN Board member since 2016.

Zahra Elmekkawy is a senior executive with broad policy, operations, and risk management experience in both the private and public sectors. Over the past four years, she led an accelerated transformation of AIG's global operational risk management framework, including the design and implementation of programs to evaluate, monitor and remediate risks, and enhance risk culture. She previously held various positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As Senior Vice President, she directed the area responsible for the supervision of 150-plus foreign banking organizations in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Prior to that role, she served as COO, with responsibility over HR, operations, and financial management activities in the Bank Supervision function. She's also held various leadership roles over the Market Risk and Policy Departments, and represented the Federal Reserve at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland for four years.

Ms. Elmekkawy strongly believes that healthcare is a human right: Her involvement in BCHN stems from her long-standing interest in this field; it has also led her to pursue an Executive Masters in Public Health at Columbia University. Ms. Elmekkawy holds a B.S. (Journalism) & B.A. (International Affairs) from Boston University, and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University.

BCHN Board member since 2016.

Victor Smart Quarshie was born Accra, Ghana in West Africa and migrated to the United States in 2000. While in Ghana, he served in the Ghana Air Force for 12 years. Mr. Quarshie has a great passion for community services. To continue his community involvement, he received his BSc in nursing from Herbert H Lehman College in Bronx, New York and is currently serving as the President of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for the Medical Science & Dr. Mary E. Walker Medical Science Academy, High School located in Bronx, New York.

Mr. Quarshie is the Secretary for the Ghana Veterans Association (G.V.A.) which he has been a member for the past 13 years.

BCHN Board member since 2015.

Hamid Khalique is a finance expert and currently a Sales Director of U.S. Fixed Income Corporate Risk Solutions for Deutsche Bank, where he manages a large portfolio of multinational clients.  At Deutsche Bank he also serves as a mentor for fellow colleagues and junior members of the company.

Before joining Deutsche Bank, Mr. Khalique served for more than a decade at the Royal Bank of Scotland, first in his home in the U.K. and then transferring in 2016 to the bank’s U.S. operations.  His work encompassed a broad range of sectors, including industrials, pharmaceuticals, and retail. He rose from a position as an analyst in the Equity Derivatives and Investor Products area to sales associate, UK and Ireland FI Treasury Fixed Income Solutions to his latter position as Vice President, Sales, U.S. Fixed Income Risk Solutions.

Mr. Khalique completed all three CFA levels through the CFA Institute. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from University College London.

With a firm commitment to developing better health care for underserved people and a depth of knowledge of business operations, Mr. Khalique is a dedicated BCHN Board director and key member of the Philanthropy Committee.

Arthur G. Edwards is known for his committed service to community health care, planning and advocacy in New York City. He is a native of Georgetown, Guyana and has been a resident of the Bronx since 1963. He received his undergraduate degree from the City University of New York (CUNY) in Pre-Law and holds an MPA in Health Policy and Management from New York University's (NYU) Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Mr. Edwards is a retired Senior Health Care Program Planner Analyst of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation (HHC). Upon retirement, he joined the Commission on the Public's Health System to advocate for public health funding in New York State and City budgets. He also fought for health care services for NYC residents, regardless of ability to pay, race and/or ethnicity or diagnosis. He served as Co-Chair of the Commission on the Public Health's System (CPHS), and is the Founder-President of the Eileen Edwards Memorial Fund, Inc. targeting activities critical to the prevention of diabetes, hypertension, heart and kidney diseases.

BCHN Board member since 2001.

Rachaele Raynoff is a product of The Bronx and a policy and communications professional who has devoted many years to public service.  Working for the Office of the Bronx Borough President, she tackled pressing issues such as ambulance response times, nursing staff shortages and the need for habitable, affordable housing.  

More recently, Ms. Raynoff served as press secretary for the NYC Campaign Finance Board and then for NYC Department of City Planning.  Whether in her capacity as a journalist, during her public service career, or through her community activism, she has sought to strengthen neighborhoods and increase opportunity for those who struggle with competing demands of accessing safe, affordable housing and health care, child care and rewarding careers.  

Ms. Raynoff has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Lehman College and a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College.

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Richard Thomas is a native New Yorker, and has spent his life experience in the field of Community Service. Serving a stint in the US Army, as a Preventive Medicare Specialist, his responsibilities were to ensure the health and safety of all military personnel.

After leaving military life, he continued his government service through the United States Postal Service. During his career he was elected Branch President of New York City, a full time position with Local 300 National Postal Mail Handlers Union. Mr. Thomas continued this position for 12 years, and then retired in 2005.

After serving 38 years in government service, the passion to serve his community and fellow man still burns brightly. As a result, he joined the BCHN Board of Directors in 2006, where he is currently active on several committees. In addition to community service, Mr. Thomas owns several businesses and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

BCHN Board member since 2006.