Editor's Note: This special National Health Center Week podcast was recorded live on August 4, 2026, from Wood River Health's Hopkinton campus as part of the organization's yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration. Wood River Health extends its sincere thanks to DJ Gadget and the entire team at 32One Media for their continued partnership and for helping share the stories, people and organizations that strengthen our community. The full podcast can be viewed on the 32One Media YouTube channel.
Wood River Health marked its 50th anniversary with a special live podcast broadcast from its Hope Valley campus during National Health Center Week, bringing together healthcare leaders, community partners and advocates to discuss the past, present and future of community health care. Hosted by DJ Gadget of 32One Media, the three-hour event featured conversations with Wood River Health leaders, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Health Center Association, highlighting the partnerships and shared mission that help thousands of local residents access high-quality care every year.
Interview guests included Alison Croke, President & CEO of Wood River Health; Dr. Lisa Menard-Manlove, Chief Medical Officer; Sharon McGuiness, Peer Recovery Specialist Supervisor; B. Joseph Reddish III, Chair of the Board of Directors; Dr. Tiffanie Waldeck, Chief Dental Officer; Peter Marino, CEO of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island; and Elena Nicolella, CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association.
Opening the program, Alison Croke reflected on Wood River Health's remarkable growth since a group of community members founded the organization in 1976 because, as she explained, “we need a local health care facility. There isn't one here.” Today, Wood River Health has grown into a comprehensive healthcare organization offering primary care, dental care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, pharmacy services and community support programs. Croke also shared the exciting news that Wood River Health had just been awarded the federal Health Center Quality Leader Gold Award for the fourth consecutive year. “Only about 145 of them get the Gold Quality Award,” she said, referring to the nation's approximately 1,400 health centers. “That's the fourth year in a row for us. So we're really excited.” She credited the recognition to the dedication of the entire organization, calling it “a testament to all the work our staff does from the front desk, the phone room, the physicians, the nurse practitioners, the dentists, the peers, everybody.”
A recurring theme throughout the morning was the importance of integrated, patient-centered care. Dr. Lisa Menard-Manlove explained that community health centers are uniquely positioned to address the full spectrum of a patient's needs. “I always knew I wanted to work in a community health center because we treat everybody the same,” she said. “We have a mission to take care of people who might not otherwise get their care.” Describing Wood River Health's Patient-Centered Medical Home model, she noted that care extends beyond traditional medical services. “It's not the old-fashioned model where the doctor tells you what to do, but it's really the patient at the center,” she explained. “I'm working very close with the behavioral health specialists, with peer recovery, with dental, to really take care of the needs of the entire patient.” Croke echoed this approach earlier in the broadcast, noting that “patients come in and have all kinds of things going on,” and that addressing issues such as anxiety, housing challenges and other social factors is often essential to improving health outcomes.
That whole-person approach was further illustrated by Sharon McGuiness, who discussed the role of Peer Recovery Specialists in supporting individuals struggling with substance use disorders. McGuiness emphasized that peer support is rooted in understanding and meeting people where they are. “Our approach is to come in as a peer, to come in as someone who's going to provide support, provide some guidance, provide some options,” she explained. “We're also going to meet the person where they're at.” Her comments highlighted the compassionate, judgment-free environment that Wood River Health strives to provide. As Dr. Menard-Manlove noted during the discussion, “There's no judgment when you come in the door here.” Together, their conversation demonstrated how recovery services, behavioral health care and primary care work hand in hand to help individuals and families achieve better health and greater stability.
The value of partnership emerged as another key theme during interviews with Peter Marino and Elena Nicolella. Marino described the longstanding relationship between community health centers and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, noting that the insurer was created more than 30 years ago by Rhode Island's health centers to ensure they had “their own seat at the table.” Today, he said, half of Neighborhood's 200,000 members receive primary care through a community health center. “We know there's high quality. We know that they pay attention to what the needs of the member are, not just health needs, but other socioeconomic needs,” Marino said. Speaking specifically about Wood River Health, he added that the organization ensures patients are “receiving not just high-quality health care, but their other needs are being taken care of as well.”
One of the most memorable moments of the podcast came when Marino shared a story that has become a defining symbol of Neighborhood Health Plan if Rhode Island's mission. Shortly after becoming CEO in 2014, he accompanied his children to a routine doctor's appointment when a nurse noticed where he worked. According to Marino, the nurse told him she loved Neighborhood Health Plan because it enabled her to do whatever was necessary to care for a child, describing the experience as “wrapping a child with a warm blanket.” Marino was so moved by the story that he shared it with employees and gave each member of the staff a blanket as a reminder of the organization's purpose. But the story didn't end there. When a major Nor'easter threatened Rhode Island a short time later, employees were asked to return their blankets so they could be distributed to people experiencing homelessness and others in need. Every blanket was returned, and more than 75 employees volunteered to help distribute them. “To me, that's Neighborhood and that's the community health center partnership,” Marino said. “We couldn't do that work without them. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm optimistic.”
Elena Nicolella offered a broader perspective on the role community health centers play across Rhode Island. As CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association, she advocates on behalf of the state's eight community health centers and works to ensure policymakers understand their unique role. “We're not hospitals. We're not private primary care practices,” Nicolella said. “We're not like any other health organization.” Instead, she explained, community health centers serve everyone who walks through their doors. “Whether you have insurance or you don't have insurance, whatever your income is, we're here for everyone.” Nicolella emphasized that National Health Center Week was created to shine a spotlight on the critical work health centers perform every day to improve access to care and strengthen communities.
While guests celebrated Wood River Health's accomplishments, they also discussed challenges facing healthcare today, including workforce shortages, provider burnout and changes to Medicaid eligibility rules. Despite these concerns, the prevailing tone remained optimistic. Marino summarized that outlook when he said that the “secret sauce” behind Rhode Island's healthcare success is “the people who are dedicated to the mission.” Speaking about Wood River Health specifically, he praised Alison Croke's leadership, noting that she is “visionary” and committed to ensuring the organization has the resources necessary to meet community needs. The conversations served as a reminder that Wood River Health's success over the past 50 years has been built on collaboration, innovation and an unwavering commitment to serving patients with compassion and dignity.
The full podcast can be viewed at the 32One Media YouTube channel.
