MARY
CASSESSO
My Experience
Take a look into my past professional experiences
Chief Community Officer
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) 2012-2021
I believe health starts in our community, not in the doctor's office. As Chief Community Officer of safety-net hospital Cambridge Health Alliance, I served the communities of Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, Malden, Chelsea, Everett, Winthrop, and Revere.
-
Board Committee on Population Health
-
Patient & Family Advisory Committee
-
Immigrant Health Committee
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance for the Deval Patrick Administration
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Working for the Commonwealth, I oversaw a $15 billion budget and 12 agencies that focused on the health and resilience of veterans, elders, refugees and immigrants, children and families, blind, deaf and hard of hearing individuals.​
Dean of Administration and Finance
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM)
I brought oral health into the community during my tenure at HSDM. During this time I sat on the Joint Committee on the Status of Women at Harvard Medical School and served as a mentor to advance women. I was awarded:
-
The Community Service Award (2010)
-
Leadership Award for the Advancement of Women Staff (2005)
-
The Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award (2000)
-
Admissions Committee
-
Research Committee
-
Financial Deans' Committee
-
Honorary Member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Society
Deputy Director
Board Affiliations
Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund 1991- (Current) 30 years spent creating affordable units
​
Regis College Graduate Program in Health Administration Advisory Committee Member (Current)
​
New England College of Business Board Member (Current)
​
Massachusett's Organization for Addiction Recovery Board Member
​
Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees 2002-2012; Chair, 2002-2008
​
Member, Governor Deval Patrick Transition Team for Department of Community Affairs
Joint Committee on the Status of Women at Harvard Medical School/Harvard School of Dental
​
​​
Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
Metro Housing Boston is a non-profit that provides innovative and personalized solutions to alleviate and prevent homelessness.
Executive Office of Communities and Development
Implemented mandatory staff training. Executed managerial functions to support administration.
Budget Director
Division of Employment Security
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Responsible for budget preparation and policies for $90 million state agency with 2,000 employees.
Director of Administration and Finance for the Administration of Governor Michael Dukakis
Executive Director
Council on Aging and 60+ Health Center
Assistant Director of Human Services
City of Somerville
Homeschool Social Worker
Somerville School Department
City Auditor for the Gene Brune Administration
City of Somerville
Chief Financial Officer for the City (population 80,000;
budget $80 million; 1800 employees). Established first departments of Human Resources, Purchasing, and Information Technology. Automated all City’s financial operations. Achieved bond-rating upgrade.