Mary Charlotte Goessler, MD, MPM, FAAP, CHCQM of Fairview, Texas passed away December 8, 2017, at the age of 66. She was born August 14, 1951, to Charles Walter Goessler and Mary Emma (Anderson) Goessler in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mary received her BS and MD from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University (MPM), was Board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) and American Board Quality Assurance and Utilization Review (CHCQM), and held active medical licenses in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Texas.
She was a senior health care executive and a practicing pediatrician, educator and adult pediatric and Medicare administrator for thirty plus years. Mary started Bellevue Pediatric Associates Limited. Mary was a VP and Medical Director, HMO/ACO at Children’s Health System of Texas (CHST) from 2014 to 2017, she provided medical direction for, and helped grow the pediatric accountable-care organization (ACO) Pediatric Alliance by developing and managing contracts. She assisted with the development of a Medicaid HMO, Children’s Medical Center Health Plan (STAR Kids, 9,650 members). She ensured state resources went to those extremely ill and disabled children who most needed them. Before joining CHST, Mary served in leadership roles at Highmark, Inc. from 2007 through 2015. As Chief Medical Officer, WVA Family Health (2013-2015), she was involved in the development of plan structure, governance design and application completion process that led to successful licensure in 2015. Earlier (2013-2013), as Highmark’s Medical Director, IT Integrated Delivery System, she ensured the successful redesign of the technology workflow that laid the foundation for the transition from an Allscripts EHR to EPIC. From 2007 to 2010 she served in Medical Director roles consistently ensuring the highest quality of care for all patients. Before joining Highmark, Mary served as Pediatric Chair at West Penn Allegheny Health System (2003-2007). She appeared in 100 plus TV/media appearances, co-hosting pediatric/patient educational programs, contributed to 70 plus published research studies on a variety of medical topics, and was a speaker and presenter at numerous medical conferences/associations.
Mary was an avid golfer, a devoted Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and enjoyed playing the saxophone. She loved, bred, and raised miniature Schnauzers.
She was survived by her spouse, William L. Herold of Fairview, Texas; sons, Brad Herold of Austin, Texas, Benjamin Herold of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Glen Herold of Thousand Oaks, California; grandchildren, Marie, Bella, Simon, Grace, Virginia, Nick and Camille; sister, Helen Goessler of Fairview, Texas; sister-in-law, Kathleen Chapel Goessler of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and nephews, Michael Ryan Goessler, Charles Joseph Goessler and wife Mary Ellen, children Shauna and Kevin, and Sean Obermeier of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Charles Anderson Goessler.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. A rosary is set for 7:30 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Second Chance SPCA No Kill Animal Shelter, 1700 J Avenue, Plano, TX 75074 972-424-0077, www.secondchancespca.org .