Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C, Elma) presented Joanne Haefner of Lake View with one of the New York State Senate’s highest honors, the “Women of Distinction” award.  Haefner is being recognized for her work as President and CEO of Neighborhood Health Center of WNY, the region’s longest tenured Federally Qualified Health Center, and her leadership in the community.         

“Joanne has dedicated her career to helping others and oversees one of our region’s largest primary care providers,” Senator Gallivan said. “Her leadership is instrumental in the delivery of high quality, patient-centered health care to thousands of Western New York residents. In addition to being an enthusiastic advocate for Neighborhood Health, Joanne shares her knowledge and experience with numerous community organizations.”

Under Haefner’s leadership, Neighborhood is experiencing significant growth and now has six locations – in addition to a mobile unit – with a seventh location opening this year. Neighborhood is the primary care home to more than 34,000 residents and offers adult and pediatric medicine, ob-gyn, dentistry, behavioral health, psychiatry, nutrition, podiatry, vision care, and pharmacy services.

Haefner attended D’Youville University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and later returned to obtain a master’s degree and a family nurse practitioner degree. D’Youville honored her with its Delta Sigma Award, and she earned induction into the Marguerite D’Youville Honor Society.

Her healthcare career spans more than 30 years. Now as President and CEO, she prioritizes strengths-based leadership to drive employee engagement and create career opportunities, so all people feel valued. Additionally, she has molded Neighborhood into one of Western New York’s Best Places to Work as the organization achieved the distinction of Finalist in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 through the Buffalo Business First Best Places to Work competition. Neighborhood has also consistently been the highest ranked health center in WNY for quality, and among the highest ranked in the state.

Haefner serves in a number of volunteer roles, including on the board for the Community Health Care Association of New York State, she is chair of the CHCANYS HCCN board, on the Board of Trustees for D’Youville University, and on the Univera Healthcare Regional Advisory Board. She is the vice president of Western New York’s Safety Net IPA and Safety Net Association of Primary Care Providers (SNAPCAP). 

Each year, members of the New York State Senate nominate one individual from their district to be enshrined alongside the many historical women whose contributions have had a positive impact on our state.  Some of these trailblazing females include Susan B. Anthony, Lucille Ball, Harriet Tubman, and Emma Willard, among others, all with strong links to New York State.

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