NALHETS

NALHE Tri-State Chapter

“Empowering All Healthcare Specialties to be Represented.”

The Tri-State Chapter region consists of New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), and Connecticut (CT). We are the largest covering chapter in NALHE and look forward to partnering with our different communities, sponsors, and healthcare professionals.

A large portion of the Tri-State Area population comes from New York City in New York, Newark and Jersey City in New Jersey, and Bridgeport and New Haven in Connecticut.

The region is a major economic driver for the Northeast and United States as a whole. The Tri-State is specifically home to a number of world-class organizations in the finance, media, biotech, manufacturing, fashion, health care and entertainment industries.

Demographics

New York is the 4th largest state in the nation. Currently, about 3.6 million Hispanics reside in New York, which is 6.6% of all Hispanics in the United States

New Jersey is the seventh state largest in the nation. Currently, about 1.8 million Hispanics reside in New Jersey, which is 3.1% of all Hispanics in the United States.

Connecticut is the 18th largest state in the nation. About 590,000 Hispanics reside in Connecticut, being the 1% of all Hispanics in the United States.

Get to Know the Tri-State Chapter Leadership Board

Click on each individual for more detailed information

José M. Garcia

President

David Ortiz

President-Elect

Adam Diaz

Secretary

Connie Santana

Treasurer

Marleny Mangual

Chair of Marketing and Communications

Jahaira L. Burns

Chair of Membership

Jennifer Doran

Chair of Programming

Raquel Ortiz

Chair of Mentorship

Melissa H. Molina-Trinidad

Founder & Advisor, Immediate Past President

Name: 

José M. Garcia, MHA

Board Role:

President

Professional Title:

Director of Business Integration- Digestive Health Institute

Organization:

Hartford HealthCare

Bio:

José currently serves as the Director of Business Integration for Digestive Health at Hartford HealthCare. In this role, he partners with clinical and administrative leaders in identifying opportunities for growth, operations and operational enhancement. He also serves as one of the inaugural Co-Chairs for the Hispanic/Latinx Colleague Resource Group. As Co-Chair, he partners with system leaders in advocating for the Latino colleagues and communities of Connecticut and beyond. Prior to serving in these roles, José completed an Administrative Fellowship in the Lean Office at Hartford HealthCare. His interests include process improvement, health equity, diversity and inclusion, and community health.

José, who was born and raised in Piedras Negras Mexico, moved with his family to the U.S. at a young age in search of a better future and pursuing the American Dream. After living in Texas for the past 10 years, he was drawn to New England because of its diversity. José hopes to use his personal and professional experiences in order to deliver the best care and experience to patients, families and the surrounding communities. José Garcia holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX.
Name: 

David Ortiz

Board Role:

President-Elect

Professional Title:

Assistant Vice President

Organization:

RWJBH-Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Bio:

Dave Ortiz is the Assistant Vice President for the Fredrick B. Cohen Comprehensive Cancer & Blood Disorder Center. The cancer center is located at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center apart of RWJBarnabas Hospital System serving more than half of New Jersey residents.
Dave Ortiz has over 25 years of healthcare experience including operations, IT implementations and is a nationally recognized speaker on value-based care in cancer. Dave is father or 2 teenage boys and married to Raquel. Dave is Dominican born and raised in New York City.
Name: 

Adam Diaz, MHA

Board Role:

Secretary

Professional Title:

Regional Finance Data and Reporting Analyst

Organization:

Humana

Bio:

Adam Diaz is the Northeast Regional Finance Data and Reporting Analyst for Humana Inc. In this role, Adam is responsible for financial reporting and analyst in value-based contracts, and he is also the subject matter expert in Network adequacy and expansion for the 11 states in the region. He has experience in Medicare, Medicaid, Network Development, and Provider Operations & Contracting. Adam is also an adjunct professor at Felician University instructing courses at the School of Business bachelor and master-level programs.

Adam received his MHA from Seton Hall University and B.S from Stony Brook University in Healthcare Management, where he led various leadership positions in student organizations such as the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), and served on the University’s Diversity Plan Advisory Council from 2016-2017, and continued his passion for Latinx inclusion as the Market Leader of the Latinx Associate Resource Group of Wellcare Health Plans of New York from 2018 – 2020. Currently, Adam also serves in the Workforce Development committee in the IMPACT-ARG, and is a member for the UNIDOS-ARG at Humana.

Adam is a native New Yorker raised in Jamaica Queens, with heritage from the Dominican Republic, and is the Secretary for the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE) Tri-State Chapter.
Name: 

Connie Santan

Board Role:

Treasurer

Professional Title:

Surgical Clinical Registry Program Manager

Organization:

Hartford Healthcare

Bio:

Connie works as a Surgical Clinical Registry Program Manager at Hartford Healthcare. She graduated from Bloomfield College in New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In her current role, Connie is involved in different Quality Improvement initiatives and also collaborates with Clinical Research projects. Many of her interests include process improvement, diversity and inclusion, and community health.
Connie was born and raised in South America, Ecuador. She is very proud of her cultural heritage.
In her spare time, she loves traveling, listening to music, staying active, and outdoor activities including hiking, walking/jogging, biking, road trips, reading a book at the beach or park, and spending time with her family and friends.
Name: 

Marleny Mangual, MBA

Board Role:

Chair of Marketing and Communications

Professional Title:

Practice Manager

Organization:

Hartford Healthcare Medical Group

Bio:

Marleny Mangual, MBA is a Practice Manager for the Ayer Neuroscience Institute at Hartford Healthcare Medical Group.
Name: 

Jahaira L. Burns, RMA

Board Role:

Chair of Membership

Professional Title:

Practice Manager

Organization:

Hartford Healthcare Medical Group

Bio:

Jahaira is a Practice Manager for Hartford Healthcare. She oversees General Surgery and Colorectal surgery in the Fairfield Region. Her career in health care started in 2008 when she decided she wanted to pursue her passion for helping and caring for others.

She graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute with a GPA of 3.96 with a Certification in Medical Assisting. She was hired from her externship with the Avery Center of OB/GYN where she gained an extensive amount of experience ranging from front desk work, to running a lab, billing, answering Nurse calls, and assisting in surgical procedures. During her time with the Avery Center, she was promoted to Obstetrics Navigator where she was in charge of being the liaison for all OB patients in the practice. She remained with the Avery Center for 7 years and then began her journey with St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

Once with St. Vincent’s, she started her career as a Float Medical Assistant but very quickly was positioned within Surgical Oncology where within 4 months was promoted to Office Coordinator. She remained the Office Coordinator through the HHC acquisition and under new leadership has grown and gained many skills where she was then promoted to Office Manager. She was an Office Manager for 7 months and now is the Practice Manager. During her time in healthcare, she has been able to coach, mentor, and train her peers to assist them in growing in their careers. She thrives on collaboration, partnership, and continuous growth opportunities.

Being 1 of 4 daughters from Puerto Rican parents she has always felt there was a need to assist the Hispanic community. She has wanted to find someone to look up to whom she can relate and has now found that with her senior director. She desires to one day be in a position to be an inspiration to other Latinos and her 2 sons.

Jahaira was born and raised in Bridgeport, CT, and is also the Regional Ambassador for the Fairfield Region Hispanic and Latinx Colleague Resource Group with HHC.
Name: 

Jennifer Doran, MBA-MHA

Board Role:

Chair of Programming

Professional Title:

Senior Director of Practice Strategy & Operations

Organization:

Hartford HealthCare Medical Group

Bio:

Jennifer Doran is the oldest of five growing up in a strong Latino household with her Puerto Rican Mother Lydia and Peruvian Step-Father Luis. Having close ties to the Hartford community, the meaning of supporting your family, always giving back and strong work ethic are foundational principles that are very important. A Senior Director of Strategy and Operations at Hartford Healthcare. She was the first in her family to attend college, getting her Bachelor’s in Business and going on to continue her education receiving her MBA-MHA from the University of Phoenix and recently Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Certification from Cornell University.

She has worked at Hartford Healthcare for sixteen years where she has held several leadership positions. She is currently the Co-Chair Advisor of the system Hispanic/Latinx Colleague Resource Group and Vice Chair for the Hispanic Health Council Foundation Board. She enjoys teaching, mentoring, and coaching and has a strong passion for advocacy.

Many would describe her as a compassionate and powerful force that uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and never settle. Jennifer’s personal mission is to be a trailblazer in driving sustainable change in bettering our communities and improving health inequality.

Jennifer resides in South Windsor with her husband Brendan, daughter Olivia and son Carter. When not at work you can find her on the sidelines at one of her children’s many sports events being the loudest fan she can be or at the beach with a good book.
Name: 

Raquel Ortiz, MHA

Board Role:

Chair of Mentorship

Professional Title:

Vice President of Operations

Organization:

Garnet Health Doctors

Bio:

Raquel Ortiz is the Vice President of Operations at Garnet Health Doctors in Middletown, NY. Raquel is a seasoned result driven leader who spearheads all operational activities within the organization inclusive of financial management, budget preparation, strategy development, practice management and productivity analysis. Raquel holds her Masters of science in Health Care Administration from IONA University and Certification in Advance Healthcare Leadership from Cornell University. Raquel is a proud Puerto Rican, who was born in Queens, NY, raised in the Bronx and currently resides in Monroe, NY with her husband David and their 2 wonderful teenage boys (Noah and Lucas).
Name: 

Melissa H. Molina-Trinidad, MBA, C-TAGME

Board Role:

Founder & Advisor, Immediate Past President

Professional Title:

Senior Residency Program Administrator for Surgery

Organization:

Columbia Irving Medical Center

Bio:

Melissa H. Molina-Trinidad, MBA, C-TAGME is the Senior Residency Program Coordinator for General Surgery Residents at Columbia Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) in New York City. She is the CUIMC Employee Resource Group leader for two groups; Latinx and Women.

Founder of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE) Tri-State Chapter and the 2022 recipient of the NALHE Chapter Leader of the Year award. Melissa will now be serving on the Advisory Board as they continue to expand and grow the chapter.

She is a candidate for the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is currently on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Healthcare Leaders of New York (HLNY).

Her career in Graduate Medical Education has given her the opportunity to get involved in the Association of Hospital Medical Education (AHME) and has been elected to become Chair of the Council of Program Administrators and Coordinators (COPAC) a two-year term starting this year.

Melissa is currently serving her last year term as a Board of Trustee of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, the nation’s premiere Greek-lettered organization working towards the elimination of violence against women and empowerment of women. Committed to developing of collegiate and professional women through sisterhood, diversity, leadership, service, and academic excellence.

She received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Mercy College in 2018 and her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management at Stony Brook University with a minor in Women's Studies in 2009.

Melissa is of Ecuadorian descent and was born and raised in Queens, New York. She is a wife, a dog mom, and a new mom to a son.

Strategic Plan

This strategic plan describes the goals and objectives of the 2021 NALHE Tri-State Chapter.

Mission
The primary mission of the Chapter is to be the organization and chapter of choice to our Latinx/non-Latinx in the Tri-State area. We want everyone to feel welcomed and encouraged to get involved in making a difference  in different healthcare fields, while always feeling valued and represented.

Vision
To connect and support our Latinx students, early careerists, healthcare professionals, and executives, across the Tri-State area; promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, by increasing Latinx representation in healthcare leadership.

Needs Statement
Hispanic health is often shaped by factors such as language/cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and the lack of health insurance.

While being one of the largest minority groups in the U.S., Hispanics make up approximately only 3% of hospital board members in the United States and only 5% of physician pools, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). This makes it challenging for Hispanics to pursue a medical and health care administration career and for those who do, to aspire to certain jobs once they graduate. That lack of representation translates into a poor support network which can lead to poor outcomes for the population.

To that end, NALHE Tri-State Chapter is committed to bringing positive change to health equity within the Tri-State area by educating the community and policymakers about health inequities in our community, the cost of these inequities, and empowering Hispanic and Latinx leaders so they can have a seat and the table and help make decisions toward solutions that will benefit the Hispanic population.

The NALHE Tri-State Chapter’s goals and metrics to measure for success are the following:

Goals:

  • Partner with other professional organizations to host collaborative workshops/events
  • Recruit and retain general members while encouraging active participation in 1 or more of the standing committees
  • Develop connections and procure sponsorship for chapter sustainability

Metrics:

  • New membership/ Member retention based on national benchmark
  • Partnerships with local colleges/universities
  • Partnerships with local Community organizations

Contacts:

Melissa H. Molina-Trinidad, MBA, Founder, President, NALHE Tri-State Chapter, nalhetristate@nalhe.org

(LinkedIn Page) https://www.linkedin.com/company/nalhe-tri-state/

NALHE Tri-State Chapter’s 2022 Portfolio