Get to Know: Christopher F. Irizarry, Chief Executive Officer, FoundCare Inc

Christopher Irizarry is the Chief Executive Officer of FoundCare, Inc., a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that offers adult, geriatric, and pediatric primary care services to all individuals and families in Palm Beach County. Mr. Irizarry joined FoundCare in 2019 as the Chief Strategy Officer. With over 15 years of executive-level experience working with Federally Qualified Health Centers, Mr. Irizarry quickly demonstrated his value to the organization and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in January 2021. After a national search, FoundCare's Board of Directors unanimously selected Mr. Irizarry to lead the organization as the next Chief Executive Officer in February of 2022. At FoundCare, Mr. Irizarry provides leadership for all aspects of the organization's operations with an emphasis on long-term goals, growth, profit, and return on investment. Mr. Irizarry launched the Women's Health outpatient program in 2020, adding prenatal and postpartum outpatient services and an in-house mammography screening program to FoundCare's service roster. Understanding the vital importance of mental health, Mr. Irizarry expanded FoundCare's behavioral health services. Additionally, Mr. Irizarry led the construction and renovation of FoundCare's newest 10,000 square foot health center and helped bring in an additional $1M in grant dollars to the organization. Mr. Irizarry's career experience began in 2006 when he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, the largest FQHC in New Jersey. His tenure at North Hudson concluded in 2013 when he relocated to South Florida to help transition the Florida Department of Health of Palm Beach County to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, serving as Vice President and Executive Director of Clinic Services. In 2018, Mr. Irizarry joined Banyan Health Systems in Miami as their Vice President and Executive Director of Primary Care. During his tenure at Banyan, Mr. Irizarry expanded services to a new site, played a vital role in integrating behavioral health and primary care services, and helped deliver close to $1M in additional grant funds. Under Mr. Irizarry's leadership, the Health Care District and Banyan FQHC's received perfect Operational Site Visit audits from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Mr. Irizarry earned his administration of justice degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and his master's in public administration from the City University of New York (CUNY). He is a proud graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County and the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program.