Gina Gavlak

President and CEO

Gina brings twenty-five years of experience, dedication and desire to improve access to affordable health care, eliminate health disparities, improve health outcomes and change the trajectory of chronic disease.  Gina also has an extensive fundraising, program development and advocacy background.

Gina currently serves as Chair of the National Advocacy Committee of the American Diabetes Association.   Over the past nine years, she was active in the  creation, and promotion of the Diabetes and Endocrine Center at Lakewood Hospital including the development of the Diabetes Assistance Initiative which has provided over $1.2 million in financial assistance to people who lacked the resources to afford their diabetes education, medications and supplies.   While at the Center, Gina collaborated with North Coast Health to ensure our uninsured patients had access to care  and volunteered her time to meet individually with patients with diabetes at North Coast Health to help them achieve their self-management goals.  In addition, Gina’s experience as an emergency department nurse at MetroHealth Medical Center has allowed her to see firsthand, and develop a deeper understanding of, the challenges and the needs of the underserved and the impact on the individual and our communities.