Betsy McCaughey

Betsy McCaughey is a leading healthcare policy expert, Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID), and an adjunct fellow of the Hudson Institute. She is a former Lieutenant Governor of New York (1995-1998) and is a U.S. Constitutional historian. Her passion, expertise, and delivery make her a sought after commentator. A dynamic (and sometimes controversial) speaker, she has developed a voice that commands respect and opinions that merit the attention of colleagues, elected leaders, and the media. Betsy has written columns for The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and The New York Times, and frequently shares her insights with viewers of CNN, Fox News, ABC News, CBS, and countless radio shows around the United States. She has been seen on programs such as Good Morning America, 20/20, The O'Reilly Factor, and Talk Back Live, to name a few. Betsy has also testified on several occasions before Congressional committees.

Health care reform and hospital safety have become Betsy's passions. In 2004, she founded RID, a not-for-profit educational campaign devoted to safer hospital care. For the past five years, the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths has crusaded to ensure that healthcare providers implement simple steps for the most hygienic and sterile environments possible, as well as to educate the public and empower patients so they learn how to reduce the likelihood of getting hospital infections. In 2009, she launched an informational website dedicated to the public's need to know the status of healthcare legislation. Betsy is also advocates for innovation in technologies, believing that it is key to lowering hospital infections and improving medical care.

Before entering politics, Betsy forged an illustrious career as a professor and scholar. She was the John M. Olin Fellow at Manhattan Institute, before becoming part of the Hudson Institute. At both acclaimed think tanks, she produced prize-winning studies. She taught U.S. constituional history at both of her alma maters, Columbia University and Vassar College (she did her undergraduate work at Vassar, and earned her Masters and Doctorate at Columbia). In the mid-1970's she trained in corporate banking at Chase Manhattan Bank.

Her launch into politics and healthcare issues began in the mid-90's. In 1994, she vigorously criticized the healthcare reform package proposed by Bill Clinton. At that time her The New Republic article, 'No Exit," received the National Magazine Award for excellence in the public interest. Much of her tenure as New York's Lt. Governor was focused on healthcare. In fact, during that time, the bills that she worked on often became models for legislation in other states and the U.S. Congress.

Betsy is available to speak on issues such as aging and longevity, U.S. constitutional history and American politics, but her most in demand programs target healthcare issues. In addition to addressing current and proposed healthcare policies, she talks about improving healthcare safety, reducing hospital infections, accelerating the adoption of new medical breakthroughs, Medicare, and fostering medical innovation. Betsy also is a director on several boards.

Betsy is a frequent contributor to many news programs, radio shows, acclaimed publications, and blogs.