The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Mercy Health — Lorain names Community Health director
Marilyn Alejandro-Rodriguez has been named the new Community Health director for Mercy Health — Lorain, effective April 8, according to a news release.
Alejandro-Rodriguez will lead initiatives to promote community collaborations that will help address the unique health needs of the Lorain community, the release said.
“My journey in community health began after experiencing the loss of both my parents to AIDS, which propelled me to become a community health worker,” she said in the release. “With over 30 years of experience in this field and having started my career in the face of such adversity, I’ve witnessed firsthand the importance of access to quality health care and support systems.
“Beyond offering resources, I’ve found solace and strength in the power of prayer, and I’m grateful to work in an organization that embraces and celebrates faith.”
Alejandro-Rodriguez joins Mercy Health after a tenure as the inaugural director for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Community Health Workers, a position in which she has a proven track record of connecting with underserved populations and advocating for their needs, the release said.
“Marilyn has a wealth of experience and that, teamed with her passion for service, is sure to benefit our ministry and the communities we serve,” said John Luellen, MD, market president of Mercy Health — Lorain and Youngstown in the release. “We very much look forward to working with her and seeing the positive impacts she will bring.”
One of Alejandro-Rodriguez’s first projects will be the health system’s upcoming Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) which kicks off in May, according to the release.
Taken every three years to identify the top health concerns in Lorain County, the survey uses community input to help set and establish priorities to address care gaps and provide local health resources with the goal of positively impacting the health and wellbeing of people living in the area, the release said.
The top focus areas identified in the latest assessment for Lorain County included chronic disease, mother and child care, mental health, substance abuse, cancer and social bias, according to the release.
Mercy Health — Lorain already is working to address some of these issues through various community health programs, the release said.
For instance, the Mercy Health Family Outreach Department cared for 173 pregnant women and their 137 newly born infants in 2023, and has impacted more than 5,000 lives over its 29-year history of providing services to the community, according to the release.
Additionally, the Mercy Health Faith-Based Community Nursing (parish nursing) has continued a long-standing partnership with 86 churches and congregations, connecting nearly 13,000 people with health care testing and education, the release said.
“Fostering collaboration and synergy, I aim to maximize our impact on the well-being of the communities we serve,” Alejandro-Rodriguez said. “What excites me most is the opportunity to directly serve people and families, making a tangible difference in their lives.”
Alejandro-Rodriguez also is a mother of three adult children and she has two dogs.
For more information about the Community Health Needs Assessment process or to get a closer look at results of previous assessments, visit https://www.mercy.com/about-us/mission/giving-back.