SOMERSWORTH — Greater Seacoast Community Health recently welcomed Lori Gravelle as its new chief operations officer. She brings to the role more than 20 years’ experience in health care, much of it at community health centers like those that make up Greater Seacoast – Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth and Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth.
Gravelle recently relocated to the Seacoast region from upstate New York, where she began her career in health care. Most recently, she worked remotely as director of compliance, quality and risk management for a New Mexico community health center. She has also served as physician practice compliance and credentialing officer at US Radiology Specialists; as vice president for risk management and compliance for Hudson Headwaters Health Network, a large network of community health centers in upstate New York; and director of medical staff operations at a community hospital in upstate New York State.
Gravelle holds an master’s in business administration in healthcare management from Western Governors University and a graduate certificate in healthcare corporate compliance from George Washington University.
“I am very passionate about the patient population that community health centers serve and about contributing to the improved access to high-quality care for rural, underserved and vulnerable patient populations,” Gravelle said. She adds that in addition to improving access and health outcomes for patients, she is passionate about developing the workforce. “One of my first priorities will be to work with schools and community partners to develop recruitment pipelines as a way to address the staffing challenges that we, along with most health care providers, are experiencing.”
Greater Seacoast’s previous COO, Jim Avrett, is now serving as the organization’s chief executive officer.
“We are thrilled to have Lori join our team at Greater Seacoast,” he said. “Not only does she bring a great breadth of relevant knowledge and experience, but her also her depth in many of the areas that will be crucial to the future success of our organization is impressive. She has hit the ground running and is already having a positive impact on our operations and culture.”