Executive Management

Community Healthcare Network is lead by a team of professionals dedicated to bringing access to healthcare to people of New York City. Each member brings years of experience and their unique strengths to their work at CHN.

Robert

Hayes

President and CEO

Robert M. Hayes has served as President and CEO of Community Healthcare Network (CHN) since 2015. CHN operates 14 federally qualified health centers in New York City providing integrated care to 85,000 patients annually.

Mr. Hayes has deep experience in leading mission-driven organizations that advocate for and deliver, both locally and nationally, direct services to people in need. Mr. Hayes founded and led the National and New York Coalitions for the Homeless, winning the nation’s first Right to Shelter court ruling and battling to remedy many of the upstream causes of homelessness. This included leading litigation and other advocacy campaigns to address the shortage of supportive housing for people with mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Mr. Hayes’s advocacy also forced increases in protective and preventive services for families in need.

More recently, Mr. Hayes served as President of the Medicare Rights Center, a non-profit organization supporting consumer interests in national and state debates over issues of healthcare and aging. He also oversaw consumer protection for more than two million Americans with Medicare as the Senior Vice President for Health Quality at Universal American Corp. Mr. Hayes has also practiced law with firms in New York and Maine, including Sullivan & Cromwell and O’Melveny & Myers.

Mr. Hayes has an unwavering commitment to social justice and issues of equity. He is a MacArthur Foundation Fellow and has been awarded honorary degrees by 11 colleges and universities. Mr. Hayes is a graduate of Georgetown University and the New York University School of Law.

Taisha

Benjamin, MD

Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs

Taisha Benjamin, M.D., is the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Community Healthcare Network. Dr. Benjamin is a Board-Certified Pediatric Physician, with an extensive amount of years spent as a community Pediatrician, working to provide high-quality patient care that fellow providers and staff can use, in a team-based care model. She is a proven leader with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Dr. Benjamin completed her undergraduate degree at The City College of the City University of New York in biology and her medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She attended the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York – Columbia for her residency program in Pediatrics.

In her career, Dr. Benjamin has worked as a Pediatric Intensive Care Hospitalist, a Pediatric Ambulatory Care Doctor, as well as in administrative positions within CHN, such as the Medical Director and the Director of Pediatrics. She has also been awarded for her success as a doctor, such as the Trusted Messenger Award, the Patient’s Choice Award and America’s Most Honored Doctor.

Daniel

Napolitano, MD

Chief of Population Health Officer

Daniel Napolitano, M.D. is Community Healthcare Network’s first Chief Population Health Officer. He holds a medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed his residency at the Mount Sinai Downtown Residency in Urban Family Medicine.

Dr. Napolitano  served at CHN until 2016 as a family physician and Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Since then, he worked at the Institute for Family Health and Mount Sinai Hospital System as Vice President of Population Health for the Institute and Director of Inpatient Services for Family Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Susan

Yee, DrPH, MHA

Chief Operating Officer

Susan Yee joined Community Healthcare Network as the AVP of Community Health & Clinical Operations in 2016. Susan is a public health practitioner and healthcare administrator with over 15 years of experience in strategic planning, operations and process improvement, organizational development, program implementation and evaluation.

Prior to assuming her current role at CHN, Susan served as the Director of Quality Improvement and Strategy at New York University School of Medicine. She was also the Associate Director of Programs and Services at the Charles B Wang Community Health Center and the Deputy Director of Clinical Systems Improvement Unit at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Additionally, she has worked as an independent consultant for numerous non-profits in New York City.

Susan holds a Master in Health Administration with a concentration in Health Policy from the University of Washington and Doctorate in Public Health from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Her interest is focused on reducing health disparities, improving childhood and adolescent health and advancing the field of dissemination and implementation research.

Michelle

Johnson

Chief People Officer

Michelle Johnson is currently the Chief People Officer for Community Healthcare Network. She is a New York licensed attorney who has primarily worked in the nonprofit sector specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion, labor/employment law, Title IX, discipline, collective bargaining/union procedures, compliance, investigations, and training/development. Prior to joining CHN, Michelle was the senior director of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement for Westchester Medical Center Health Network, headquartered in Valhalla, NY. She also served as the chief diversity officer/director, employment equity and diversity/Title IX coordinator at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. After serving as a law clerk with the Superior Court of New Jersey and as an associate attorney with a civil defense firm, Michelle spent eight years as senior counsel with the New York City Department of Education.

Michelle earned her BA in American Government from the University of Virginia and her JD from Widener University School of Law-Wilmington, DE. She previously served as co-chair for the activities and events committee on the New York Advisory Board for the Tri-State Diversity Council, a local chapter of the National Diversity Council. She was also a six-year trustee for Greenwich Academy, a college preparatory day school for girls in grades Pre-K through 12, where she served as co-chair for the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. Michelle does public service work within her surrounding communities as part of a graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a service-based organization. Michelle is vice chair/chief compliance officer for the Paige Fraser Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to inspire young emerging artists, with or without physical challenges, to reach their full potential. She was also a mentor with Judge Judy’s Her Honor program.

Alan

Wengrofsky, CPA

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

Alan Wengrofsky is the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Community Healthcare Network. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) licensed in the state of New York since 1993 and began his career with Loeb & Troper, LLC. where he specialized in not-for-profit and healthcare accounting.

Prior to coming to Community Healthcare Network, Mr. Wengrofsky was the CFO of a nursing home chain with annual revenue of $500 million dollars. He currently serves as a member of the finance committee of a private school and has previously served on the board of a not-for-profit agency.

Mavis

Pacheco, MSN, RN

Chief Health Information Officer

Mavis Pacheco, MSN, RN, is Community Healthcare Network’s Chief Health Information Officer, overseeing CHN’s Data and Informatics teams. She has 12 years of experience with community health and joined CHN in 2011 as a staff RN, working her way to the positions of RN Manager and Director/AVP of Informatics, as well as overseeing Population Health strategy for several years. Prior to joining CHN, Mavis works as a Clinical Quality Manager at Public Health Solutions, MIC Centers.

Mavis has a special interest in bridging the gap between healthcare and technology, leveraging technology to support efficiency and promote positive patient experience and outcomes. She believes the “behind the scenes” battle and dedication from health information technology teams is a key contributor to improve the quality of care, improve patient engagement in their care, reduce costs of care, determine at-risk populations/areas, administer prevention strategies, improve patient safety, facilitate interdisciplinary care, improve/promote access and equity, making data driven decisions, and so much more. She is dedicated to continuing the evolution of technology in healthcare at CHN.

Kate

Shanks

Chief Technology Officer

Kate Shanks has more than 20 years of experience managing IT operations and data analysis projects in non-profit and government sectors. Prior to joining CHN, Kate worked for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT at Health and Human Services. Before that, she worked on a mayoral initiative at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene assisting FQHCs throughout New York City with the transition from paper to electronic health records. Kate holds Master’s degrees from the University of Sydney and the University of Chicago.

Luis Freddy

Molano, MD

Vice President of Infectious Diseases and LGBTQ Programs and Services

An advocate for quality healthcare for everyone throughout his career, Luis Freddy Molano, MD, worked as a family practitioner in South and Central America prior to joining Community Healthcare Network in 1989. Initially a health educator at our Community League Health Center and the Bronx Health Center, Dr. Molano went on to become Center Director at our Bronx Health Center for 12 years while simultaneously acting as Project Coordinator for the Adolescent Mobile Program and HIV Testing Program.

Dr. Molano then became Associate Executive Director for Women’s Health and the HIV Prevention Programs where he started and implemented one of the most successful HIV programs that integrated HIV counseling and testing with women’s health. As a result of his efforts he was named Assistant Vice President of HIV Programs and Services, a role he filled for six years before being named Vice President of HIV Programs and Services in 2010. Dr. Molano is a respected voice on HIV issues, presenting at conferences including the US Conference on AIDS, Office of Population Affairs as well as state and city wide forums.

He has also written and published in medical journals like the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and The W-Path (Transgender Health Forum) among others. In addition, he is a Board Member of the Family Planning Advocates of New York State; on the Board of Trustees of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA); sits on the New York City HIV Planning Council – Needs Assessment Committee and has served on the NYS Prevention Planning Group and the NYS AIDS Services Delivery Consortium and is a former member of the International AIDS Society. He is fluent in Spanish and English.

Dorothy E.

Farley, LCSW-R

Vice President of Behavioral Health and Social Services

Dorothy Farley is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R) who received her master’s degree in social work from the Hunter College School of Social Work.

While she assumed the position of Vice President of Social Services in 1999, she began her career at CHN managing a teen program and would later become a center Social Worker. She has extensive experience in coordinated care delivery and social services.

In her time at CHN, Ms. Farley has overseen the successful transition of the organization’s COBRA Case Management Program from a fledging one team service in the Bronx to one of the largest COBRA CFP Programs in the state.

This award-winning program enabled CHN to successfully transition to a New York State Health Home Lead in Brooklyn & Queens. Ms. Farley also oversaw the integration of the Article 31 Licensed Behavioral Health and Social Services program, which allows patients to receive their medical, behavioral and social services all in the same clinic. She currently sits on the Integration of Care Committee as a voting member of the HIV Health & Human Services Planning Council of New York City.

Christine

Rutkoski

Vice President of Development

Christine Rutkoski is the Vice President of Development at Community Healthcare Network. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College and a B.A. in Journalism and Women’s Studies from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Christine joined CHN in 2008 as a Development Associate, earned the title of Director of Development in 2015 and was named Vice President of Development and External Affairs in 2018. Prior to working at CHN, she worked for a pediatric-focused non-profit within Bellevue Hospital. Christine has over a decade of experience in grant writing, fundraising, and communications, including the development and management of large scale public grants and innovative, privately-funded initiatives.

Karline

Barthe, BSN, RN

Vice President of Nursing

Karline Barthe, BSN, RN is the Vice President of Nursing at CHN and a candidate for an MSN in Organizational Leadership and Education at the CUNY Graduate School. With over 29 years in nursing, she has experience as both a Licensed Practical Nurse and a Registered Nurse in various healthcare settings.

She began her CHN journey in 2005 as a staff nurse, later exploring leadership roles while continuing per diem work in ambulatory care. Her career spans hospital outpatient and community nursing, chronic disease management, home care with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, inpatient acute specialty units, infection control, and nursing education at CUNY. Before returning to CHN in 2022 as Director of Nursing, she served as Head Nurse Manager of a Stroke & Chemotherapy Unit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island and as an Infection Preventionist at Kings County Hospital.

Mrs. Barthe holds degrees from CUNY Medgar Evers College, CUNY School of Professional Studies, and SUNY Farmingdale State University. She is a Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Leader, a former CUNY SPS ACE Scholar, and a Nurse Career Mentor. She also holds a certification in Fundamentals of Simulation Education (FUSE) from NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

A passionate advocate for community nursing and chronic disease prevention, she co-founded a nonprofit for healthcare professionals, earning her mayoral recognition and the “Power Women of Brooklyn” award in 2022.

Marlene K.

Smoot, MPH

Vice President of Clinical Operations

Marlene K. Smoot joined Community Healthcare Network as Regional Director in 2017. Marlene is a healthcare administrator and with over 20 years of experience in clinical operations, strategic planning, process improvement, organizational development, project management, coaching and leadership development.

Prior to assuming her current role at CHN, Marlene served as the Deputy Director at Ryan-NENA Community Health Center. She was also the Manager of Practice Operations at ColumbiaDoctors. Marlene also completed an Administrative Residency at North Shore University Hospital/Northwell Health. Additionally, she has worked as a medical assistant at Montefiore Medical Center in the Department of Pediatrics.

Marlene holds a Master in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Columbia College at Columbia University in the City of New York. Her interests are focused on working with a team to provide quality healthcare to all New Yorkers and in particular those persons who are marginalized.

Karlo

Francis, LMSW

Director of Care Coordination

Karlo Francis is one of the Directors of Care Coordination for Community Healthcare Network’s Health Homes program. Karlo joined Community Healthcare Network in 2013 and has been instrumental in bringing a combination of clinical skills and over 10 years of international hospitality management experience to CHN’s Health Homes care coordination program.

In the role of Director of Care Coordination, Karlo is responsible for overseeing the operation of CHN’s Care Management Agency (CMA). The CMA being imbedded within the Health Home lead, while also subcontracted to two other lead Health Homes, provides Karlo with the opportunity to direct operations with full understanding of both the Lead Health Home and Care Management Agency perspective. Under the Population Health umbrella, Karlo collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to help CHN develop processes to achieve the goal of providing integrated services geared towards team collaboration and patient engagement in care. Karlo has been tapped as a presenter and panelist to share his knowledge on integrated care by NYS Care Management Coalition, Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) and Center for Health Care Strategies.

Karlo received his Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Mercy College and his Master of Science in Social Work from Lehman College.

Board Members

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, meeting the community’s needs is our highest priority. We stay in-tune to those needs by keeping our board made up of at least 51% patients at our centers.

Community Healthcare Network is proud to have as part of their governing board the following outstanding professionals and community members:

Natasha

VanWright

RN, MBA, MS, MA, CCM

is a Registered Nurse and Senior Healthcare Executive with 25 years of experience developing and leading multistate clinical, value-based care, and health equity programs. Natasha brings experience from her work at NYU hospital; outpatient care systems such as VNS Health, Urban Health Plan, and Belong Health; and from the health insurance sector at Wellcare/Centene, Centerlight, and Healthfirst. She is an active member of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Recent Alumni Council, Westchester Women’s Agenda, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, and the National Black MBA Association. She received an MBA from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, a MS in Healthcare Leadership from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, a MA in Nursing Education from Pace University, and undergraduate degrees from Pace University and Fordham University. Natasha joined the CHN Board in 2024.

Ronda

Kotelchuck

MRP

was the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Primary Care Development Corporation. After leading PCDC for over 20 years, she retired in 2015. Prior to her work there, Ms. Kotelchuck served as Vice President for Corporate Planning and Intergovernmental Relations at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. She currently serves on the board of the New York School-Based Health Foundation. Ms. Kotelchuck holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Lewis and Clark College and a Master’s of Regional Planning from Cornell University. She joined the CHN Board in 2018.

Jeffrey

Robinson

is a senior Human Resources executive and owner of Mentone Avenue, LLC. He specializes in designing people strategies and HR programs that drive organizational performance, strengthen leadership capability, and build cohesive, high-performing cultures. As an Executive Coach and Human Capital Consultant, Jeffrey advises senior leaders on communication effectiveness, performance management, and strategic decision-making. He has served as a trusted Chief People Strategist to CEOs at organizations including One Inc, Universal American, Emdeon, and Zelis.

Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from York College CUNY and has served on the CHN Board since 2020.

Richard

Barasch

has led several public and private healthcare companies during his career, most notably Universal American which aimed to improve the health and well-being of Medicare beneficiaries and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs. Richard was a Board member of the nonprofit educational organization Turn Around USA and Swarthmore College. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Mailman School of Public Health where he served as the chair of the National Advisory Board of the Health Policy and Management Program. Richard joined the CHN Board in 2023. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Columbia Law School.

Edwidge J.

Thomas

DNP, FAAN

is the Vice President of Clinical Solutions at Northwell Health. Prior to this role, she was the leader of Mount Sinai’s Performing Provider System (PPS), part of New York State’s five-year program to modernize the Medicaid delivery system. Dr. Thomas fervently advocated for the recognition of community-based care as essential to a high functioning health system. With a doctorate in nursing practice, and a master’s degree in nursing and health service research, Dr. Thomas was a founding member of the first independent Nurse Practitioner primary care practice at Columbia University School of Nursing. In addition, she has activated a mobile health program to bring primary care services to recent immigrant and foster care youth. Dr. Thomas has been a member of the CHN Board since 2021.

Roger

Platt

formerly New York City’s Director of School Health, a joint position at the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Education. An internist, Dr. Platt completed his residency at Montefiore Medical Center and led the Mount Sinai Community Practice Network before turning to public service. Dr. Platt serves as an advisor for CHN’s School Health Initiatives and its Family Practice residency program. He served on the CHN board from 1996 to 2007 and rejoined the board in 2021.

Curtis D.

Young

is the Manhattan Borough Advocate in the Office of the New York City Public Advocate. Prior to this role, he served as Executive Director for Artistic Noise, a nonprofit organization that brings the power of artistic practice and art therapy to young people who are involved in the juvenile justice system. Young previously served on Manhattan Community Board 12 in Northern Manhattan where he chaired the public safety committee. In addition to his service at CHN since 2021, he also serves as a member of the board of directors at Class Size Matters. Mr. Young studied Political Science at Hampton University, Urban Planning at New York University Wagner School of Public Service from 2005-2006 and Nonprofit Executive Leadership at Columbia Business School and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc.

Randy P. Siller

is the co-founder of Siller & Cohen, a family wealth advisory firm that has been providing comprehensive wealth management planning services to high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners for over 25 years. Formerly a Senior Tax Manager at Touche Ross, and Senior Vice President and National Director for Private Wealth Services for Lincoln Financial Advisors/Sagemark Consulting, Randy is a frequent speaker on investment, estate and charitable planning topics and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine and other publications. He received a Master’s Degree in taxation and a Bachelor’s degree with a minor in finance. Mr. Siller has been a member of the CHN Board since 2014.

Denise Gordon

MSW

is a Program Operations Specialist 1 in Quality Assurance with NY Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, responsible for implementing quality assurance processes and assessments that ensure the highest standards are consistently met across statewide programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Denise is also a Social Worker at the Coalition for Hispanic Family Service supporting families through advocacy, education, and resources access. She is a committed advocate for the New York City underserved regarding access to community services, benefits, and basic needs. In 2013 she received her MSW from the Hunter College School of Social Work. Ms. Gordon joined the Board of CHN in 2016.

Greta Elysée

Is the Senior Program Coordinator at the Institute for Innovations in Medical Education (IIME). As a medical education researcher, she manages innovative projects, see positive impact/outcomes on medical education. Greta has more than fifteen years of experience working in health disparities research. Prior to joining IIME, she served as the Director of the Center Student Investigator Program within NYU Langone Medical Center’s Department of Population Health. Greta joined the CHN Board in 1998. She is a mentor for Year Up NYC, and volunteers as an interpreter at Human Rights First – a non-profit organization representing asylum seekers.

June

Niklus

CPA

is a Senior Partner in Deloitte & Touche’s Financial Services audit practice. She is a registered certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New York State Society of CPAs. She also serves on the board of the Cooke School and Institute. June has a BA in government from Cornell University and an MBA in professional accounting from Fordham University. She has been a member of the CHN Board since 1995.

Josephine

Diaz

Ph.D.

is a private practice psychologist who offers psychotherapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults, with a specialty in trauma. Since 2008, Dr. Diaz has worked as the Upper School Psychologist at the Dalton School. Prior to this, Dr. Diaz worked for 12 years as a federal monitor and a mental health consultant for Head Start Programs in the Northeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico. Dr. Diaz is a founding board member of The Association of Hispanic Mental Professionals and of The Hispanic Women Leaders. She is also on the Board of The Metropolitan Center for Mental Health since 2004. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, her MS in Social Work at Columbia University, and her BA at Fordham University. She has served on the Board of Community Healthcare Network since 2006.

Kristin

Manzolillo

MPH

leads US Patient Solutions Strategy for Pfizer’s Oncology Division. Her team is responsible for managing Pfizer Oncology’s award-winning patient solutions platforms, including Pfizer Oncology Together and This Is Living With Cancer, and developing the organization’s go-forward strategy to support patients and caregivers. During her 13 years at Pfizer, Kristin has also led teams across Policy and Public Affairs, Strategy, and Marketing. Kristin’s experience prior to Pfizer includes consulting with US payers and large employers on health care benefits, program design, and strategy. Kristin holds a BA and MPH from Tufts University. Kristin has been a member of the CHN Board since 2013.

Caroline

Dorsen

Ph.D., FNP-BC, Vice Chair

is Associate Dean for Clinical Faculty Affairs and Clinical Professor at New York University Meyers College of Nursing. Previously, she served as Associate Dean for Clinical Partnerships at Rutgers University School of Nursing, where she was also on the faculty of both the Schools of Nursing and Public Health. Earlier in her career, she was a coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at NYU College of Nursing. She provides primary care to homeless men and women at Project Renewal and conducts research on health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. She received her PhD in nursing from NYU, her master’s degree in nursing from Yale University, and her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley. She joined the CHN Board in 2015.

Elizabeth Krob

Kellner

MPH, JD, Chairperson

is currently an Alumni Director of the Public Interest Law Foundation at Columbia, Inc., and a member of the Advisory Council of the Citizens’ Committee for Children. Ms. Krob Kellner is a retired attorney having practiced at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Marsh & McLennan Companies. Prior to law school, Elizabeth worked at the Center for Population and Family Health at Columbia University’s School of Public Health. She received a JD and MPH from Columbia University and her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. She has been a member of the CHN Board since 1989, and in 2014 received the outstanding Board member award from the Community Health Center Association of New York State.

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