Chandra Smiley, MSW, is CEO of Community Health Northwest Florida and Director of the Community Health Northwest Florida Foundation Board. She joined Escambia Community Clinics in 2007 as a Social Worker and for the next seven years fulfilled leadership roles in social services, clinical services and business development.
Chandra was named the organization’s Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director in November 2014. Since becoming CEO, Chandra’s leadership has taken form in expanding access to care by growing the number of employees, sites and types of services offered to patients and by joining forces on numerous important collaborations with community organizations who share a common mission to impact those in need.
In 2017, along with her leadership team, Chandra spearheaded the transformation and rebranding of Escambia Community Clinics into Community Health Northwest Florida. Holding true to the health center’s purpose and mission of providing affordable, quality healthcare for the underserved, underinsured and uninsured population, treating each person with respect, dignity, and compassion regardless of age, gender, race, religion, circumstances, or ability to pay, this new name better represents a commitment to the more-than 50,000 patients served annually.
Chandra graduated from Auburn University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Social Work, and Florida State University in 2000 with a Master of Social Work. Prior to joining Escambia Community Clinics, Chandra worked in hospital social services, and with programs that address school readiness programs, the homeless, and persons with disabilities.
Chandra is former board president of the Partnership for a Healthy Community/LiveWell Partnership, a coalition of organizations working to improve the health status of the residents of our area, and also served as a co-chair of the Healthcare for the Homeless Task Force. Chandra currently serves on the Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors, previously served on the YMCA Board of Directors, and is the North Florida Regional Representative for the Florida Association of Community Health Centers. Chandra received the 2022 Pensacola Chamber of Commerce PACE Award for Healthcare Professional Leader of the Year. In 2023, Chandra received the MLK Living the Dream Award in recognition of her contribution to the community and her commitment to the values of fairness, equality, inclusion, and justice embodied by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As a healthcare leader in our community, Chandra is a member of key task forces and initiatives that impact the quality of life and improve the lives of those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was also a key community leader in spearheading early COVID testing availability and COVID vaccine access to vulnerable populations along with county and city government, major healthcare systems, and community-based organizations.
As an advocate of viewing healthcare within the wider context of the social determinants of health for vulnerable populations, Chandra continues to guide the organization to the realization of its vision of creating a community where all people have equal access to quality healthcare, fostering an environment for healthier, happier, and more productive citizens.