Megan Deichler joined the Catskill-Hudson Area Health Education Center (CHAHEC) as Executive Director in October 2020. Prior to joining the CHAHEC, she spent years working in a variety of areas of public health, including population health research and health philanthropy.  Most recently, Megan spent several years working with the philanthropic organization, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. While at Helmsley, Megan helped lead the development of a number of grantmaking strategies to improve access to healthcare and essential medicines in low-resource settings. Prior to Helmsley, Megan worked at New York University (NYU) on population health research, on topics including Lyme disease and HIV/AIDS incidence among vulnerable youth in New York City.

Megan brings to the CHAHEC a passion for improving the health of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community. Through encouraging local students to consider careers in healthcare and building health systems that are staffed and trained to serve the myriad of community health needs, Megan believes the AHEC system provides an opportunity for lasting improvements to health. Having been born and raised in the Hudson Valley, Megan is delighted to couple her interest in public health with her passion for her local community.

Megan holds a Master of Public Health degree in International and Community Health from NYU and a bachelor’s degree from Manhattanville College. She volunteers with the Dutchess-Orange region United Way and is a member of its community impact council. Megan lives in the city of Poughkeepsie with her husband, daughter, and dog, and loves practicing yoga in her free time.