Maria Reese

Maria has over 20 years’ experience working in the public health, nonprofit and healthcare sectors focusing on health equity, health promotion / disease prevention, behavioral health, social determinants of health (SDOH), and ensuring affordable and quality care for underserved populations. She has held leadership positions in population health, community health, and community engagement where she developed strategy and drove outcomes for reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes. Her work at Atrium Health, based in Charlotte, NC (an integrated non profit healthcare system with more than 40 hospitals and 1400 care locations) included helping to design and implement a sustainable and scalable care delivery model for acute social needs with standardized SDOH screenings, resource coordination, and closed loop referrals. During the covid pandemic Maria served on a system wide health equity council where she led various covid projects including an ambassador program, a social needs and delivery program, a community paramedicine motel, and had the privilege to serve the community at various covid testing and vaccine clinics. Covid has shined a light on health disparities and has demonstrated that silos can be broken down and collaboration can occur quickly in times of crisis to care for our most vulnerable populations. Maria has multiple publications on community health and the upstream impact of addressing social determinants of health through geo mapping technology. She recently joined the Get Well Team as the Sr. Director of Health Equity and Community Service Operations where she will lead a team of patient navigators that address social issues and connect patients to resources and primary/specialty care. She is an elected board member on the Town of Huntersville Greenway Commission. Maria’s passion is working with underserved communities to improve access to healthcare and healthy behaviors for ALL. She is originally from snowy Buffalo, NY but now resides in Charlotte, NC where she is married to a FireFighter and has two teenage children. When she’s not working she enjoys time with family, outdoor adventures, walking, biking, yoga, live music, friends, and traveling.