Mary Zelazny began her career in 1989 at Finger Lakes Community Health as a Community Health Worker, expanding into several roles within the organization, including work in program development, finance, and administration. Appointed as CEO in 2006, Ms. Zelazny has continued to seek opportunities to build on the successes of this growing FQHC. Her focus has always been to ensure the provision of culturally appropriate, quality healthcare services to underserved communities of Upstate NY.  As CEO, Ms. Zelazny has led a major expansion effort to provide access to healthcare services throughout the Finger Lakes region, including the development of enhanced programs and services and additional health center sites designed to reach out to the many culturally diverse communities it serves.

In addition, Ms. Zelazny has focused much of FLCH’s work on the integration of health information technology within the organization, including the development and operation of the Finger Lakes Telehealth Network. FLCH is now a nationally recognized leader in the implementation and use of telehealth, connecting a wide variety of healthcare providers through technology to provide more access to care for patients.

During Ms. Zelazny tenure, Finger Lakes Community Health has opened seven additional health center sites, as well as expanding FLCH’s Ag Worker Voucher Program into 41 counties of NYS. As the leader of an organization with PCMH Level III recognition, Ms. Zelazny has promoted the incorporation of a high level of cultural competency of staff, as well as integrating care coordination and technology into primary care that has created new collaborative relationships. This effort has resulted in expanded access and better health outcomes for patients by addressing the many barriers to care that are inherent in rural communities of New York State.