MARY
CASSESSO
My Experience
Take a look into my past professional experiences
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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.
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Board Committee on Population Health
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Patient & Family Advisory Committee
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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.​
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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:
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The Community Service Award (2010)
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Leadership Award for the Advancement of Women Staff (2005)
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The Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award (2000)
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Admissions Committee
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Research Committee
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Financial Deans' Committee
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Honorary Member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Society
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Deputy Director
Board Affiliations
Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund 1991- (Current) 30 years spent creating affordable units
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Regis College Graduate Program in Health Administration Advisory Committee Member (Current)
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New England College of Business Board Member (Current)
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Massachusett's Organization for Addiction Recovery Board Member
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Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees 2002-2012; Chair, 2002-2008
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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
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Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
Metro Housing Boston is a non-profit that provides innovative and personalized solutions to alleviate and prevent homelessness.
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Executive Office of Communities and Development
Implemented mandatory staff training. Executed managerial functions to support administration.
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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
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Executive Director
Council on Aging and 60+ Health Center
Assistant Director of Human Services
City of Somerville
Homeschool Social Worker
Somerville School Department
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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.