Maria S. Gomez, RN, MPH
President and CEO
Maria S. Gomez, president and CEO of Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, founded the organization to build better futures through health care, education, and social services that embrace our culturally diverse community. Established in 1988 as a clinic to provide prenatal and postpartum care primarily for the Latino women of Ward One, Mary’s Center has grown from having an initial budget of $250,000 to an annual budget of $14 million. Mary’s Center serves individuals and families from across the D.C. metropolitan area, establishing a full complement of programs that focus on holistic family needs. Mary’s Center remains undeterred in its efforts to advocate for the area’s most resilient, yet vulnerable, families. The Center, under Maria’s leadership, continues to expand its efforts by listening to the voices of the community and building services to support our families and their needs. Many of our families are moving to new areas and as a result, additional sites continue to open in areas such as Ward 4 and, most recently, in Montgomery County, Maryland. To read full bio please click here
MGomez@maryscenter.org
202-420-7005
202-420-7002, Sofia Morales (Special Assistant)
David Tatro, MBA
Chief Operating Officer
David Tatro brings over 20 years of administrative experience in the health care field to his role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Mary’s Center. As COO, Mr. Tatro ensures that Mary’s Center has the proper operational controls, procedures, personnel and systems in place to ensure continued growth and compliance with all regulatory agencies. In addition, he oversees the Center’s day-to-day operating activities, including revenue from patient care billing, program expenses, cost and margin control, and monthly, quarterly and annual reports to designated sources.
Prior to joining Mary’s Center, he served as the COO for the National Healthcare Group, an organization providing outpatient care throughout the state of Virginia. In this role he grew the organization’s revenue from $6.5 million to over $20 million in less than three years. Mr. Tatro’s executive experience with the Fauquier Health System and Inova Health System also provided him with invaluable management, marketing, business development, and strategic planning experience.
Mr. Tatro served in the US Naval Submarine Service and Naval Reserves. He received his BS in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his MBA from River College in Nashua, NH. Mr. Tatro is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
DTatro@maryscenter.org
202-420-7162
202-420-7086, Elza Toledo (Assistant)
Josephine Morris-Young, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Josephine Morris-Young brings over fifteen years of experience in various accounting operations. As Chief Financial Officer, she provides executive leadership, vision, and oversight for Mary’s Center’s overall financial plans and accounting practices. Ms. Morris-Young’s past professional experiences include working with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Inova Health System, KPMG, ManTech Solutions and Outsource Partners International, all of which make her well suited for the position and familiar with the financial needs and systems of Mary’s Center as a Federally Qualified Health Center. She received her BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland and her MBA from Averett College.
JYoung@maryscenter.org
202-420-7089
202-420-7086, Elza Toledo (Assistant)
Chief Development Officer
Orr Associates, Inc.
Joan Yengo
Vice President of Programs
As Vice President of Programs at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care,
Inc. Joan Yengo oversees the social services, mental health, home visitation
and education components at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc.
She has been with Mary’s Center since 1998.
Joan’s commitment to community work is highlighted by over 20 years of
experience working in non-profit community programs, including work in Trenton
New Jersey advocating for women’s right to choose, and HIV/AIDS issues
impacting the city, and with 10 years in DC focusing specifically on prevention
programs. In 2002 Joan was recognized by Prevent Child Abuse America with a
Service Excellence award. She is positive and a team player, working as a team
with her colleagues and the community in support of Mary’s Center’s
programs and their impact on the community. Ms. Yengo graduated summa cum laude
with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology.
JYengo@maryscenter.org
202-420-7007
Mark R. Fracasso, MD, MBA, CPE
Vice President of Medicine
As VP of Medicine, Dr. Fracasso directs Mary’s Center’s entire medical program and also provides direct services to our participants one day per week.
Dr. Fracasso has over twenty-five years of experience in the medical field as a practitioner, administrator, physician adviser, and medical consultant. He also has direct experience working with medically underserved communities. Dr. Fracasso completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. He has also served as clinicalfaculty at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He received his BS from Fordham University, MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine, and MBA from the University of Miami.
MFracasso@maryscenter.org
202-420-7008
202-420-7086, Elza Toledo (Assistant)
Andreina Pradas
Human Resources Manager
Andreina Pradas is responsible for coordinating all aspects of human resources
management within Mary's Center including the implementation and communication
of personnel policies, coordination of recruiting, hiring, and terminations,
benefits, maintenance of personnel records, compliance with all government
regulations and other legal requirements. She also coordinates all aspects
of employee training, employee relations and other activities necessary for
improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Mary's Center human resources.
Andreina has more than nine years in the Human Resources field holding positions
varying from Employment Manager to Training Manager for companies such as
The Ritz-Carlton, INCE Turismo and Hyatt Hotels. She has a B.A. in Tourism
Administration and received a Masters in Human Resources Development from The
George Washington University.
APradas@maryscenter.org
202-420-7112
202-420-7113, Nicole Shelton (HR Generalist)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary’s Center’s Board of Directors provides program and fiscal oversight support and guidance to the Executive and Development Directors in all activities. Board members are selected for their experience in the areas of health, health planning, law, program and personnel management and knowledge of the target community and community resources.
The strength of Mary’s Center’s board is in the diversity, skills and knowledge of its members. As a federally qualified health center, 51% of the board membership must include participants in the Center’s services. This mixture of participants and community members has tremendously strengthened the programmatic components that Mary’s Center offers.
Below is a list of our governing board:
Mary MacPherson, Chair
Luis Carrera, Vice Chair
Luis Guardia, Treasurer
Alejandra Ceja, Secretary
Ximena Cespedes, Director
Patrick Chaulk, MD, Director
Estelle Cooke-Sampson, MD, Director
Randee Grant-Gueye, Director
John Kaelin, Director
Johary Monserrate, Director
Julie Martinez Ortega, Director
Guadalupe Pacheco, Director
Hanita Schreiber, Director
Philanthropic Board
Mary’s Center also has a philanthropic board which assist supports the Center with with its fundraising efforts, including major donors, corporate cultivation and the annual gala, Noche Tropical.
Its members are asked to make personally significant gifts and to cultivate and solicit others who can make equally significant gifts. The Board meets on a bi-monthly basis (every 8 weeks) to develop strategies to ensure that efforts meet or exceed the goals in a timely manner.
The members of the philanthropic board are:
Hanita Schreiber, Chair
Estelle Cooke-Sampson, MD
Betsy Griffith
Prue Hoppin
John J. Kaelin
Samuel Lievano, DDS
Mary MacPherson
Wayne A. Simmons
