Our Leadership

Senior Management:

Eliza Lake
Chief Executive Officer

Eliza Lake, MSW, has been Chief Executive Officer of Hilltown Community Health Center since 2014. Previous involvement in HCHC was as a grant writer and Community Programs Manager, Board member, and as a patient since she was a child. Under her leadership, the organization has grown through the addition of the Musante Health Center site in Amherst, and has expanded its service offerings to meet the needs of the rural Hampshire and Hampden County communities HCHC serves. Eliza has over 25 years of experience in policy analysis, strategic planning, community stakeholder engagement and facilitation, and governmental relations. She has worked for and with state government, advocacy organizations, and non-profits to ensure access to community-based services; statewide for aging adults and people with disabilities; and on behalf of vulnerable populations of Western Massachusetts. She has a Master's in Social Work from Boston University and a Bachelor's of Arts in Social Anthropology from Harvard College. A native of Worthington, Eliza lives with her husband and two children on her family's farm.

Email Eliza Lake

Dr. Michael Purdy
Chief Clinical and Community Services Officer

Dr. Purdy received his BS in Biology in 1999, a Doctor of Optometry from The New England College of Optometry in 2003, and a Master's in Public Health in 2019.  He joined HCHC in 2010 and has worked for over 19 years in Community Health, including his current role as Chief Clinical and Community Service Officer.

John V. Melehov, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

John is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts with over 20 years of experience working in healthcare finance and revenue cycle management.

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Vickie Dempesy
Chief Operating Officer

Vickie joined HCHC as the Chief Operating Officer in 2020. She brings over 30 years of experience with increasing responsibility in healthcare organizations, strategic planning, operational efficiencies, with a goal of high quality clinic care while promoting patient, staff & provider satisfaction. Prior to joining Hilltown Community Health Centers, she directed outpatient services at Shriners Hospital for Children where she was responsible for performance improvement and implementation of change working with interdepartmental teams -resulting in dynamic performance improvement projects. She is honored and proud to be with the Hilltown Community team where she finds that staff embody courage, dedication, passion, integrity, kindness, and selflessness.