María S. Gómez

María S. Gómez, R.N., M.P.H. serves as a working Board Member of the Schattner Foundation where she works with the Board of Directors to align the mission of the foundation with projects delivering innovative programs in health, education, and others that are result-oriented and impactful with emphasis on the DC metro region and a few overseas projects. In her prior endeavor she was the founder, president, and CEO of Mary’s Center, a federally qualified health center providing primary healthcare, social services, and education for families in the District of Columbia (DC) metropolitan region since 1988. The goal of Mary’s Center is to partner with families to help them move up the economic ladder through health, education, and workforce development opportunities. 

Under Maria’s leadership, Mary’s Center grew from serving 200 participants in a small basement with an initial budget of $250,000 to serving nearly 60,000 participants across seven locations in DC and Maryland with an annual budget of $80 million and a staff of 800. She is well known for her innovation of longstanding health, education, and social support programs, strong management and financial skills, and for brokering partnerships between the corporate, public, and non-profit sector. Maria is among the strongest leaders in the region. As a testament to her significant commitment to giving back to the community, President Barack Obama selected her as one of the 18 recipients of the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor.