Catholic Health names Laurie Merletti president of physician enterprise

Catholic Health announced Laurie Merletti, MSHA, FACHE, was named president of physician enterprise. Most recently, she served as vice president of physician integration and practice management for the health system. In this expanded role, she will provide executive oversight of Trinity Medical WNY as well as Catholic Health’s primary care centers and hospital-sponsored physician practices in Erie and Niagara counties.

“As we look for new ways to meet the practice needs of area physicians, while recruiting more doctors to Western New York, Laurie will help us continue to grow our Trinity Medical practice network in concert with our private practice colleagues at Catholic Medical partners,” said Mark Sullivan, president and CEO of Catholic Health. “For patients, these efforts will align with our systemwide initiatives to improve access to high-quality care as we work together to create healthier communities.”

Catholic Health’s physician enterprise includes nearly 60 practice locations and a care team made up of more than 500 clinicians and administrative and support staff. Medical and surgical services range from primary care and cardiology to orthopedics, OB-GYN and vascular care.

“Within this framework, Laurie will work closely with our executive team and medical staff leadership to ensure physicians looking for opportunities to practice in such care models can do so successfully,” Sullivan added. Through this collaborative work, she will help forge new relationships to streamline care delivery using leading, evidence-based patient-centered care models.

A resident of Niagara County, Merletti began her career at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, holding a number of management positions, including director of quality and risk management, and senior director of clinical excellence. After Mount St. Mary’s became part of Catholic Health in 2015, she was named vice president of physician integration and practice management.

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Merletti earned her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from New England College. She received her bachelor’s degree in commerce from Niagara University.