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About Us

Since 1972, MHEDS has provided equitable, culturally sensitive healthcare that supports the physical, mental, and social well-being of our community.

Discover Our Mission

Our Mission

To enable all who wish to achieve complete mental, physical and social well-being by providing equitable, culturally sensitive, patient-centered health care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Learn More About Our Team at MHEDS

We serve Erie by delivering quality, personalized healthcare to diverse individuals and families in the region. We feel it is a privilege to ensure that you have access to great medical and preventative care, regardless of your ability to pay.

Our Passion

At MHEDS, we serve the Erie Region by delivering quality, personalized healthcare to an at-risk and diverse populace.

We feel it is a privilege to ensure that those in need have access to top-quality medical and preventative care, irrespective of their ability to pay.

You’ll find our committed staff providing support and education to patients and the community at large. We strive to deliver the absolute best in curative and preventative services to all those we serve.

MHEDS was formed as a collaboration between the Erie Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches. Since our founding in 1972, our work has focused on offering solutions to multicultural and underprivileged communities in the Lake Erie Region.

Who We Serve

The City of Erie is the 4th largest city in Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 95,000. Erie is home to some of America’s poorest zip codes, with a staggering 91% of city households earning less than $25,000 annually.

Erie is a melting pot of cultures drawing immigrants from all over the world. Nearly 86% of patients served by MHEDS have a native language other than English. It is not uncommon to hear our valued patients speaking languages such as Nepali, Arabic, Swahili, Ukrainian, Russian, or Spanish.

In a given year, MHEDS will serve thousands of patients – with the vast majority (roughly 78%) insured through CHIP or Medicaid. Our patients rely on us to diagnose and treat conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, mental & oral health concerns, and many more.

Three donut charts: Left—86% of patients are better served in a language other than English; Center—2023 patient mix by race/ethnicity; Right—2023 payer mix: mostly Medicaid, then private, Medicare, and uninsured.

Recognition

Office of Refugee Resettlement

An Office of the Administration of Children and Families

Not only do we work to delight our patients, but other entities are also taking note of our staff’s tiresome efforts! In 2021, the Pennsylvania Office of Refugee Resettlement awarded MHEDS its Excellence in Community Engagement Award for valuable contributions in serving the refugee population.

American Heart Association and American Medical Association

MHEDS has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Silver recognition as part of the Target: BP™. The Silver Award recognizes practices that have demonstrated a commitment to improving blood pressure control through measurement accuracy.

Board of Directors

Dylanna Jackson

Blanca Velez

Grant Filbeck

Timothy Pelkowski

Alex Lisichenko

Thomas Saunders

Heather Hart

Allan Krayeski

Naomi Frost

Matthew Lasher

Lena Surzhko Harned

Administration

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Alivia Haibach

Chief Executive Officer

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Sue Chute, MPH, PT

Chief Operations Officer

Todd Szoszorek

Chief Financial Officer

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Maggie Biebel, DO

Chief Medical Officer

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Angela Cerrie, RN

Chief Quality & Compliance Officer

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Stacey Boothe

Chief Information Officer

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Tammy Melnik

Revenue Cycle Management & Practice Manager

Careers / Volunteer

Loan Repayment

We are a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Health Service Corps Site and a Pennsylvania Primary Care Loan Repayment Program Practice Site.

Volunteer

Many healthcare professionals donate time and expertise to MHEDS to deliver health education workshops and…

Opening: Family Medicine Physician

MHEDS has a need for a Family Medicine Physician. Apply now!

A young healthcare professional with a stethoscope smiles confidently in a medical facility. Text reads: “Make a Difference. This is what a career in health care was meant to be. MHEDS. Caring for people from around the world and right here at home.”.

Opening: Medical Assistant

MHEDS has a need for a Medical Assistant. Apply now!

Smiling woman in blue scrubs with a name badge stands at a reception desk, talking on a corded phone in a bright office with large windows.

Opening: Front Desk Associate

MHEDS has a need for a Front Desk Associate. Apply now!

Opening: Physician Assistant

MHEDS has a need for a Physician Assistant. Apply now!

Opening: Part-Time Primary Care Provider (MD, DO, CRNP, PA)

MHEDS has a need for a Primary Care Provider. Apply now!

A smiling female nurse stands with arms crossed in a bright hospital room; other healthcare professionals are talking in the background. Text reads We are hiring with contact info for MHEDS, a healthcare organization.

Opening: Health Center Triage Nurse

MHEDS has a need for a Health Center Triage Nurse. Apply now!

Smiling woman with red hair and glasses sits at a desk with a laptop, papers, and a pen, promoting a healthcare hiring ad for MHEDS. Text reads, We are hiring. This is what a career in health care was meant to be.

Opening: MHEDS Practice Coordinator

MHEDS has a need for a Medical Practice Coordinator. Apply now!

MHEDS Brochure

Annual Reports

Letter to the Community

MHEDS has been serving the Erie region for more than 50 years. Founded in 1972 as a joint project of the Erie Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches, the organization began by providing health education to African American and Hispanic farmworkers. As the community’s needs evolved, MHEDS expanded to provide primary healthcare, refugee and immigrant health services, and other essential support.

In 2019, MHEDS entered the federal Health Center Program as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, an important milestone that strengthened our commitment to providing high-quality, equitable care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

In 2026, MHEDS reached another historic milestone, advancing from Look-Alike status to become a HRSA-funded Federally Qualified Health Center. Through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s New Access Points program, MHEDS now receives direct federal Health Center Program funding to strengthen access to primary care and expand our capacity to serve individuals and families throughout the Erie region.

This new chapter builds upon more than five decades of service and reinforces our commitment to providing equitable, culturally sensitive, patient-centered healthcare while continuing to meet people where they are.

To learn more about MHEDS’ work, strategic highlights, patient population, financial performance, and impact throughout the community, please view our annual reports below.