LEADERSHIP

 

Darcy Shargo, MFA : Chief Executive Officer

Darcy Shargo, MFA

Chief Executive Officer

dshargo@mepca.org

Darcy Shargo serves as the CEO of the Maine Primary Care Association. In this role she provides the vision, direction and leadership for the organization. She also supports programmatic development and reporting efforts. Included among her responsibilities in running the organization, are leading all state and federal policy priority setting with the Board and focusing on building collaborative and strategic relationships with state and federal partners, as well as other key stakeholders. Prior to her role as CEO, Darcy served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Maine Primary Care Association, where she has been for a total of eleven years. Prior to this role, Darcy was a Health Policy Advocate for Consumers for Affordable Healthcare providing research and analysis and was the Executive Director of a crisis services agency. Darcy has her BS from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA and her Master of Fine Arts from Goddard College in Plainfield, VT. She graduated from the Hanley Health Leadership Development Program in 2010.

Hillary Colcord : Chief of Culture

Hillary Colcord

Chief of Culture

hcolcord@mepca.org

As MPCA's Chief of Culture, Hillary assists the CEO and Impact Team in providing leadership and oversight for day-to-day functions and supports the MPCA team in developing and implementing a trauma-informed operational strategy/system. She helps develop approaches that help MPCA meet our organizational goals that support Maine's Community Health Centers. Hillary joined MPCA in 2019 and prior to holding her current role, held Program Manager roles focused on Health Equity and managing MPCA's cooperative agreement from HRSA. Prior to joining MPCA, Hillary worked in low-barrier homeless services in Cumberland County, focusing primarily on Housing First interventions for people experiencing chronic homelessness. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Health and Human Services from Suffolk University. Hillary is passionate about trauma-informed care and creative solutions to overcoming the barriers that health centers and their patients.

Christopher J. Pezzullo, DO : Chief Clinical Officer

Christopher J. Pezzullo, DO

Chief Clinical Officer

cpezzullo@mepca.org

Dr. Christopher Pezzullo, DO serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for the Maine Primary Care Association, supporting the clinical integration, health equity and quality improvement programs. Prior to this role, Chris served as the Chief Medical Officer for MaineCare, Maine’s Medicaid program. Chris has a BA in Psychology from Stony Brook University in New York, and a medical degree from the University of New England in Biddeford. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at the Maine Medical Center in 1996. He graduated from the Hanley Health Leadership Development Program in 2010.

Bryan Wyatt, MA : Chief Public Affairs Officer

Bryan Wyatt, MA

Chief Public Affairs Officer

bwyatt@mepca.org

Bryan is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of internal and external communications that promote agency awareness, education and public relations efforts. In addition, Bryan provides direct support on state and federal policy priorities working in tandem with the agency and its members. Bryan brings to his position more than 20 years of experience in public relations, strategic communications, crisis management and issues advocacy, having represented a diverse portfolio of clients including Fortune 500 companies, industry associations and nonprofit organizations. He earned a BS in Government from Liberty University and a MA in Political Management from George Washington University. Bryan’s primary roles are Public Policy, Communications, Media Relations, Social Media Marketing and Training & Technical Assistance Development.

 

DIRECTORS

 

Emily Ferry, MSW : Director of Workforce Initiatives

Emily Ferry, MSW

Director of Workforce Initiatives

eferry@mepca.org

Emily brings a background in education and nonprofit management to her role as the Director of Workforce Initiatives at Maine Primary Care Association. Coming to Maine from Chicago, Emily has built her professional experience through the field of adult and childhood education as well as neighborhood campaigns and community wellness projects. Emily believes in the importance of cultivating learning environments within the professional workplace that are based on accessibility and professional development. Emily received her undergraduate degree in education from Marquette University and graduated with her Masters in Social work from the University of Illinois, Jane Addams College of Social Work with a concentration in organization and community practice.

Lisa Frost : Finance Director

Lisa Frost

Finance Director

lfrost@mepca.org

Lisa has been with MPCA since 2016 and performs various accounting and financial functions on behalf of the organization. Her previous work experience includes bookkeeping, municipal government administration, and human resources. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Maine.

Hannah Hudson, MA : Director of Policy

Hannah Hudson, MA

Director of Policy

hhudson@mepca.org

Hannah joined Maine Primary Care Association in 2021 and is responsible for leading the organization’s public policy initiatives and building the capacity of MPCA’s members to advocate effectively for their mission. She previously worked in Washington, DC, as a policy staffer for Maine Senator Susan M. Collins, leading efforts on global health and international trade. Prior to that, she was a consultant at The Cohen Group, a strategic business advisory firm founded by former U.S. Secretary of Defense and Maine Senator William S. Cohen. Hannah earned a BA in International Affairs and a MA in Global Policy from the University of Maine.

Robert “Bobby” Martin : Director of Community Health Innovation & Partnerships

Robert “Bobby” Martin

Director of Community Health Innovation & Partnerships

bmartin@mepca.org

As MPCA’s Director of Community Health Innovation & Partnerships, Bobby supports the Community Health Center network in the areas of value-based care and payment, cross system collaboration, and policy advocacy.  Having started his career in behavioral health services, Bobby brings a passion for integrated and trauma-informed care delivery though policy, systemic change, and clinical innovation. His prior work in Medicaid strategic initiatives includes implementation of System of Care governance structures, design of advanced primary care models serving children in foster care, creation of a web-based care coordination platform, and other innovations to better serve the community. Throughout his career, Bobby has worked to improve healthcare quality and access for vulnerable children and families, his professional passion. He is a Pacific Northwest transplant and a graduate of Boston College.

Patrick Scorese : Director of Development

Patrick Scorese

Director of Development

pscorese@mepca.org

Patrick brings over 10 years of fundraising and grant writing experience to bear in his role as Director of Development for the Maine Primary Care Association. Prior to his service with MPCA, he lived and worked in New York City, where he supported cultural institutions like the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. Patrick holds a BA from Muhlenberg College and an MA from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Sharon Stanley, MBA, CPC, CPB : Director of Operations Improvement

Sharon Stanley, MBA, CPC, CPB

Director of Operations Improvement

sstanley@mepca.org

Sharon serves as the Director of Operations Improvement. Prior to joining our staff, Sharon worked for the Department of Health and Human Services in many roles for the past 11 years, most recently as the Acting Director of Rate Setting. Sharon has her MBA from Thomas College and is also a Certified Professional Coder and a member of the American Association of Professional Coders. Sharon loves cooking, campfires, and road trips with friends. Sharon’s primary roles are to assist members with navigating a changing healthcare environment, developing business and IT processes, financial planning, and exploring alternative payment models.

 

PROGRAM STAFF

 

Ashley Cleary : CQI Program Manager

Ashley Cleary

CQI Program Manager

acleary@mepca.org

Ashley serves as the CQI Program Manager, providing support to the PSO Director and staff. She assists with data collection, research, and other administrative duties. Prior to this, Ashley was a Program Assistant with a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). Ashley graduated from Thomas College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. She has two girls who are very involved in basketball, softball and dance, and her favorite pastime is gathering with family and friends.

Megan Cross : Data Systems Program Manager

Megan Cross

Data Systems Program Manager

mcross@mepca.org

As Data Systems Program Manager, Megan's work encompasses both BPHC and HCCN grant deliverables. She previously worked as Executive Assistant at a large home health and behavioral health agency that focused on rural and underserved areas of Maine. Prior to that Megan spent several years working in the insurance industry, focusing mainly on Quality Management. Megan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Maine at Farmington.

Leslie Lorentzen : Workforce Program Manager

Leslie Lorentzen

Workforce Program Manager

llorentzen@mepca.org

Leslie serves as the Workforce Program Manager at Maine Primary Care Association (MPCA) and is dedicated to advancing Maine's healthcare landscape. In her role, she harnesses technology and information systems to optimize workforce program strategies, emphasizing collaboration, inclusivity, and data-driven decision-making. Currently pursuing a master’s in public health (MPH), she aligns her educational journey with her mission to drive healthcare and workforce development forward through innovative approaches. Beyond her work at the PCA, Leslie is passionate about understanding and addressing the impacts of environmental health and climate change on human well-being, with a commitment to identifying solutions that prioritize health and equity. She is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within healthcare, contributing to a more just and equitable system for all.

Andrea Watkins : Logistics and Communications Specialist

Andrea Watkins

Logistics and Communications Specialist

awatkins@mepca.org

Andrea provides direct support for the Chief Public Affairs Officer and the Policy & Communications Team. She provides administrative support for the Public Policy & Communications Committee and manages logistics for training events and MPCA special projects. Andrea develops the MPCA weekly newsletter – the MPCA Weekly Compendium,  is a member of the Annual Conference Planning Team and maintains the event registration platform. Andrea joined MPCA in 2005; in her off time, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with her family at her summer camp, and 4-wheeling with her husband. While Andrea's primary role is supporting the Chief Public Affairs Officer, she provides assistance wherever her help is needed.

Susan Whittaker, CPC, CPMA : Training and Risk Management Program Manager

Susan Whittaker, CPC, CPMA

Training and Risk Management Program Manager

swhittaker@mepca.org

Susan joined Maine Primary Care Association (MPCA) in 2020. She supports the Community Health Center Network (CHCNet) Grant and is a valued member of the Finance Program’s Coding, Billing and Auditing Services Team. Susan’s career has centered around medical services delivery, working as a medical assistant, medical accounts manager, and practice manager before being credentialed as a certified professional coder (CPC) and certified medical record auditor (CPMA) by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Prior to joining the MPCA staff, in her role as a Coding and Compliance Specialist, Susan worked with Mount Desert Island Critical Access Hospital, and Maine Medical Partners, a large provider based MaineHealth physician group; she then joined the Quality Improvement Organization of New England to provide technical assistance for Medicare’s Quality Payment Program. In her off time, Susan is an avid organic gardener and wild bird lover.