Mary J. Sienkiewicz, MBA

As Chief Operating Officer for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) since 2015, Mary has overall responsibility to facilitate the implementation, management, oversight, evaluation, and strategic planning for the CTSI. This includes collaborations with all cores and programs (BERD, Clinical Research Facilitation, Community Engagement, Evaluation, Imaging, Informatics, Mentored Career Development, Pilot Studies, Special Populations, Team Science and Workforce Development), Steering Committee, and CTSI Board.

Her executive leadership career has focused on community-academic partnerships and spanned community/regional, state, and national levels. This includes 16 years (Deputy Director, Associate Director and Director) with the New York State Area Health Education Center (AHEC) System, a statewide, community-based health workforce development initiative based in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Buffalo, with a mission to improve access to quality healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes, “Connecting students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.” She was co-investigator, PI, and lead author of grant submissions to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) resulting in $28 million in 2000-16. Before UB, for 12 years, she served in executive director positions with the Cornell Cooperative Extension System and two of its affiliated community-based not-for-profit agencies, accountable to a community-based board of directors, with a mission to connect and translate research knowledge of Cornell University and other land grant institutions to individuals, families, and communities.

Mary served in multiple leadership positions in the national AHEC Organization (NAO), representing 50 AHEC Programs in academic institutions and 240 AHEC Centers in communities. As NAO President in 2011-12, she provided leadership for a multi-year strategic planning process; supervised a tactical action plan to accomplish selected priorities of the shared vision, culture of evaluation and learning, branding, and national programs; and presided over the bi-annual national meeting of 600+ attendees. As Immediate Past President, she provided leadership for Culture of Evaluation and Learning Workgroup deliverables and transition of this function to a NAO infrastructure.

Mary holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s in business administration degree from the University at Albany.