Mary Ellen Cortizas

Mary Ellen Cortizas joined Claritas as a founding member after twenty-eight years in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, including the last sixteen years as Administrative Director. In that role, Ms. Cortizas directed operations of all clinical laboratory programs with a $44m operating budget and $165m gross revenue including 4 divisions and more than 200 employees. Mary Ellen oversaw both the creation and multiple expansions of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory Lab that has become the foundation for clinical operations at Claritas. She has participated in the evaluation, selection and implementation of multiple Laboratory and Hospital Information Systems. She represented Laboratory Medicine on oversight committees for Clinical Information Systems and Regulatory Readiness, and for the Human Resources Advisory committee. She has extensive expertise in state and federal regulation of clinical laboratories, including more than 20 successful inspections by the Joint Commission, the American Society of Blood Banks, and the FDA. During her time at BCH, she oversaw strategic planning that resulted in more than $50 million in sustained departmental improvements. She and the Clinical Genetics division chief submitted and were awarded a grant creating the BEST initiative (Bringing Expertise to Selecting Tests) and funded a group of lab professionals, clinicians, and genetic counselors to create practice guidelines for high complexity molecular tests. As a 15-year member of the Laboratory Directors forum of the Child Healthcare Corporation, Mary Ellen collaborates with her peers to develop standards of best practice in pediatric-centered clinical laboratories.

Mary Ellen taught Laboratory Management at Northeastern University and has lectured on multiple topics including quality management, human resource recruitment and retention strategies, and organizational leadership and structure. She served on and chaired an American Society of Clinical Pathologists’ registration exam committee, preparing and analyzing certification exams. She obtained her BS in Biology from Tufts University and her JD from Suffolk University Law School.