George O’Garro didn’t go to medical school, but caring for others has long been a priority for him. Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mr. O’Garro grew up economically disadvantaged in Los Angeles. In 2001, he left home to attend the United States Naval Academy on an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship. Following graduation, he served as a surface warfare officer and engineer for deployments in the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
Mr. O’Garro then set his sights on Wall Street. After receiving his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he began his financial career at J. P. Morgan before becoming a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs.
The 6-foot-6-inch, 41-year-old former basketball forward now wants to pay it forward. He currently serves in various roles for several nonprofit organizations and, thanks to a fortuitous friendship with Einstein Trustee Melissa Ceriale, joined the College of Medicine’s Board of Trustees in 2022.
We recently talked with Mr. O’Garro to learn more about his motivations and why he’s such a strong advocate for Einstein.
What drives your interest in philanthropy and giving back?
A big motivation for me is representation. I’ve been very, very fortunate to get to the position I’m in, where I’m able to be of service and offer guidance. I’ve noticed that there are not a lot of people like me—with my racial and economic background—in similar positions of power. So I feel it’s important for me to be visible and use my experience and knowledge to benefit others.
How did you come to be involved with Einstein?
I initially knew about Einstein just from being in New York. Then I reached a point with my philanthropy where I was looking to get involved with higher-profile boards where I could have a significant impact—actually contribute, and not just be a board member in name. And of course a hospital system and medical school like Einstein, which is part of a very diverse community, needs diverse representation on its board. I want community members to look at the board and the leadership and see people who look like them. This felt like a great opportunity for me to represent the community Einstein serves.
How does your background inform your contributions?
At the Naval Academy and during my naval career, my priority was taking care of my people. I’ve adopted a similar mindset in the business world and in institutions I want to be a part of and represent. In the corporate world, I think it’s easy to shift focus to the bottom line—profit or product—versus employees and people. I want to be involved with institutions that have a goal, a passion, and a mission.
Integrity is also very important to me and is very much the ethos of the military. In my day job I manage money for families, which is a personal and trust-oriented role. Integrity is about doing the right thing when no one is looking. I need to do what’s in the best interest of the people I’m serving. That’s the starting point, and it just carries through to everything I do.
What excites you most about Einstein’s future?
What I most respect about Einstein are its authentic and genuine culture and its desire to help the community and students, and to just do things the right way. A lot of our board meetings are really focused on the betterment of the students and how to improve their lives. Literally, it comes up all the time: How can we enable students to become the doctors they want to be? How can they focus on their passions and do work they love, rather than worry about paying off loans?
Einstein’s pathway programs are a great example of that. Beginning when they’re in high school, we offer students from under-resourced communities the opportunity to participate in rigorous academic programs in the health professions. In my view, these initiatives help level the playing field and give these young, motivated people the ability to explore what excites them—something they might have never thought possible.
I think Einstein does a really good job of involving the Board and giving us opportunities as well. I’ve gone to the hospital on various tours and visited labs in the Stem Cell Institute. I’ve met so many experts, doctors, researchers, and even patients. It’s not just showing up to a boardroom. We’re really able to see what’s happening on the ground.
It’s all too easy for large institutions with a lot of responsibilities to lose sight of the people. And I’ve seen that Montefiore and Einstein truly put people first.
