
Executive Officers
With a combined 150 years of managed care experience, Monroe Plan’s Executive Team has the breadth and depth of knowledge, wisdom, and leadership ability needed to steer the Organization in fulfilling our Mission and Vision.

Dennis J. Graziano
President & Chief Executive Officer
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Prior to joining the Monroe Plan in 2007, Mr. Graziano had a distinguished 27 year career with the New York State Department of Health holding a variety of leadership positions including Executive Deputy Director of the Center for Community Health and Director of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Mr. Graziano is a recognized healthcare financing expert in Medicaid and Managed Care; having served as the lead auditor in the Buffalo Office of the Office of Welfare Inspector General prior to joining the Department of Health.

Michael F. Messier, MBA
Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer
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Prior to his appointment with Monroe Plan for Medical Care, Mr. Messier was a healthcare consultant and a principal and co-founder of a healthcare research and consulting firm located in Albany, New York. He oversaw the firm’s managed care financing and actuarial services division working with both regional and national health plans initiating new safety net programs in New York. He also consulted with various healthcare providers to enhance reimbursement in contracts with managed care entities. Prior to his consulting work, Mr. Messier worked for the division of healthcare financing for the NYS Department of Health, setting rates and participating in rate hearings with Article 44 licensed health plans. Mr. Messier has served on various local not for profit boards in Rochester, New York.

Kim Hess, MBA
Chief Operating Officer
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Ms. Hess has more than 35 years of leadership experience in the health care market with a specific focus on Medicaid and Medicare products and services. Prior to joining Monroe Plan in 2010, Ms. Hess rounded out a 20 year career at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield as the Vice President of Medicaid & Government Programs. Ms. Hess earned her MBA at St. John Fisher College and undergraduate degree from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is an AHIP Certified Health Insurance Executive and actively serves on community agency boards.

George E. Matthews, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
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Prior to joining Monroe Plan for Medical Care as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Matthews practiced as a cardiologist in Western New York for over 35 years. Building on a philosophy that the effective practice of medicine is an art as well as science, he has been driven to improve the quality of life for his patients by providing the highest quality of care.
Dr. Matthews also currently serves as Chief of Service for the Department of Medicine at Kaleida Health. In this capacity, he has accountability to ensure that services and programs provided are patient/family focused, clinically excellent, operationally efficient, and achieve effective outcomes in clinical quality, safety, cost, experience, and professional staff engagement. Additionally, he is intimately involved in the education of the next generation of physicians through his work in teaching medical students, residents, fellows.
Dr. Matthews completed his undergraduate education at Brown University. He went on to earn his Medical Degree from Cornell University and completed his medical training at the Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Along with a wealth of clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Matthews brings a career long commitment to community health naturally affiliating him with Monroe Plan’s mission to serve the underserved.
Board of Directors
Comprised of pre-eminent physicians and business leaders from the Western New York Region, Monroe Plan’s Board of Director guides and challenges our Executive Team, while providing expert insight and perspective on key industry and community trends that affect our Strategy and Mission.
Kevin Pickhardt
Chair
Mardy Sandler, LMSW
Vice Chair
Marilyn R. Brown, MD
Secretary
Rijad Karabegovic
Treasurer
Arthur D. Pellittieri, MD
Member
Elizabeth Naumburg, MD
Member
Larry Denk, MD
Member
Susan H. McDaniel, PhD
Member