FARMINGTON – Leah Binder of Farmington has been named vice president of Franklin Community Health Network, a health care system serving areas of central and western Maine.

A native of Portland, Binder has served as executive director and chief operating officer of the Healthy Community Coalition, a health network affiliate. In 2003 her responsibilities were expanded to include leadership of a program for the uninsured called Franklin Health Access.

She led expansions and improvements in both programs: the operating budget of Healthy Community Coalition grew by 350 percent since her arrival, and membership in Franklin Health Access expanded by 60 percent over her 18-month tenure.

Binder helped found and serves as outgoing president of the Maine Network of Healthy Communities.

In October, she will be installed as president of the Maine Public Health Association.

She will continue her current duties in addition to assuming responsibilities for the networkwide functions of education, marketing, planning and government relations.

Before coming to Farmington, Binder served as senior policy adviser in Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani’s Office of Health Services in New York City. There she developed and administered citywide programs to improve care of the uninsured.

She began her career in health policy for the National League for Nursing in New York City. Later, she was communications director for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Binder lives in Farmington with her family.