Neighborhood Health Center’s Vice President of Strategy Kelly Suzan is being honored with a 2026 Buffalo Business First Excellence in Health Care award. These awards recognize high-achieving and hard-working professionals in the health care industry. 

Kelly, a 26-year veteran in the healthcare field, has deep expertise in public health nursing, policy development, health systems efficiency, education, and team leadership, cultivated through progressive leadership roles. 

In an organization with 400 employees spread across multiple locations, Kelly is an influential leader in ensuring all teams at all locations are aligned on the organization’s goals and plans to achieve those goals. She is instrumental in making Neighborhood’s strategic plan a living, breathing road map that guides the organization. 

Kelly’s leadership is also reflected in patient health outcomes and Neighborhood’s quality scores. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Neighborhood is required to report a core set of information to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) about the care it provides, including health outcomes and patients' use of services. Based on this information, Neighborhood has earned the Silver Health Center Quality Leader distinction, making it the highest ranked health center in Western New York for quality, and in the top 20% nationwide. This recognition reflects a coordinated, data-driven effort to improve clinical quality and patient health outcomes across the health center.

“She cares deeply about human rights,” said Neighborhood Health Center President and CEO Joanne Haefner. “Kelly brings to our leadership team a unique combination of strategic thinking, public health expertise, and passion for fairness for each person. She is a major reason why Neighborhood is known for high quality. I am grateful for her and she is truly deserving of this award.”

Kelly is a recognized leader and fellow of the Geiger Gibson Health Policy Fellowship and McKnight Salzburg Global Seminar, and is actively engaged in health policy and community initiatives.

She will receive her award at an awards dinner at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens on June 17.