Carolina Caring is pleased to announce Maria Reese as its new Vice President of Marketing & Communications. Reese is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of diverse experience in the public health, nonprofit, government, and private healthcare sectors. An expert in strategic planning, operations, leadership, marketing, and community engagement, she has been instrumental in the implementation of numerous community health and social responsibility campaigns, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. Her community outreach projects have been shown to help remove barriers to care, thereby improving both health outcomes and the patient experience.
Her previous roles have included Founder of the healthcare consulting firm, InterConnect Health LLC, Senior Director positions at both Atrium Health and Get Well, a digital health company, Director of Community Services & Operations for the Mecklenburg County Health Department, and leadership roles at Catawba County Public Health and ALFA, the AIDS Service Organization based in Hickory, N.C. She is a frequent contributor to publications on community health and the social determinants of health and is a co-author on a chapter in the book, “Both/And Medicine and Public Health Together.” She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Maria to Carolina Caring.” said Christina McNally, Chief Strategy Officer. “She has a proven track record of leveraging her background and skills in strategic communications and community outreach to capture and share compelling stories, which is the core of marketing. As a community and health advocate, Maria has a strong commitment to fostering a deep understanding of community needs, and then developing evidence-based solutions to address complex problems. Her dedication to ensuring everyone has equitable access to quality healthcare aligns perfectly with our patient-centered approach to care.”
“I have seen firsthand how this organization’s care comforts, uplifts and supports families navigating serious illness,” said Reese. “I have dedicated my career to ensuring affordable and quality care for underserved populations, so joining this team of compassionate caregivers is a wonderful chance to pursue my passion for health equity in a new way. My mission is to find new and impactful ways to tell our patients’ stories to enhance awareness of, and access to, our vital services.”
Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Reese now lives in Huntersville, N.C., with her husband, their two young adult children and two Australian Shepherds. She serves as an elected president emeritus and board member on the Town of Huntersville Greenway Bikes and Trails Commission, is a member of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) Advisory Board at Queens University, and volunteers at Roof Above, a homeless shelter in Charlotte.