New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has appointed Bharti Sharma as the new Executive Director of the Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence (CIDI), placing an experienced public health and data strategist at the helm of one of the city’s key research and analytics agencies. The appointment underscores the administration’s commitment to using data and technology to improve government services and develop more effective public policies.
Announcing the appointment, Mayor Mamdani praised Sharma’s career-long dedication to applying data-driven solutions that directly benefit communities. He highlighted her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and credited her with creating innovative systems that enabled city officials to make informed decisions during one of the most challenging public health emergencies in recent history. He said her expertise would help strengthen government operations and improve the quality of services delivered to New Yorkers.
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga also welcomed Sharma to the leadership team, describing her as an accomplished professional with extensive experience coordinating complex health and social service initiatives. She expressed confidence that Sharma’s knowledge would help foster stronger collaboration among city agencies while improving outcomes for residents across New York City.
Sharma said she was honored to accept the position, describing CIDI as an organization where data, public service, and real-world impact intersect. She explained that her years working within healthcare systems have shown how timely and accurate information can significantly influence people’s lives. She pledged to focus on collaboration, innovation, and building solutions that make city government more responsive and effective.
Founded in 2011, CIDI works across multiple city departments to identify service gaps, conduct research, and recommend improvements based on data analysis. Before joining the agency, Sharma served as Senior Director of Data and AI Strategic Enablement and Operations at NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal healthcare system. During the pandemic, she led the development of the COVID-19 Intelligence Hub, which provided real-time operational data on hospital capacity, emergency services, bed availability, ventilator resources, and other essential healthcare metrics. She also oversaw the creation of public dashboards tracking COVID-19 testing and vaccination wait times.
After the pandemic, Sharma introduced the Data Champion Program, which expanded to more than 300 participants throughout the healthcare system, and established the Data Academy, training over 500 employees in data literacy and analytics. Together, these initiatives generated an estimated $4.75 million to $5.5 million in annual cost savings while creating a nationally recognized framework for responsible data governance.
Industry leaders praised Sharma’s appointment, describing her as an innovative leader capable of combining artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and public service to modernize government operations. They said her experience positions her to help New York City build smarter, more efficient services while ensuring data is used responsibly to improve the lives of residents.
