The following article was written by Alex Nunes, publisher of the South County Star, on July 14, 2026. The South County Star is a nonprofit, locally-led newsroom dedicated to community-focused journalism in Southern Rhode Island and Southeastern Connecticut.
Wood River Health has named Dr. Lisa Menard-Manlove, a longtime primary care physician, its chief medical officer.
Menard-Manlove joined Wood River Health after completing her medical residency and has worked at the community health center for nearly 23 years.
“It’s exciting. It’s also a huge challenge,” Menard-Manlove said.
Menard-Manlove said one of her goals is to bridge the clinical and administrative sides of the organization.
“I’m still working in clinical. I’m not going to be full administrative,” she said. “So I’ll still be in the thick of it, and that shows people I know what they’re going through.”
A graduate of Chariho High School, the University of Rhode Island and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Menard-Manlove earned a master’s degree in healthcare management from URI in 2024.
“She’s been looking over the last few years to grow her role,” Wood River Health CEO Alison Croke said. “We think it’s important to promote from within, and she has a lot of credibility internally as well as with the community.”
Croke said Menard-Manlove brings strong ideas to her new role and experience as a doctor “living this primary care crisis every day.” She also credited Menard-Manlove with helping improve the organization’s electronic medical records system and advocating for primary care legislation at the Statehouse.
“She’s very interested in the future of primary care,” Croke said, “and helping train the next generation of providers, which we really need.”
Menard-Manlove, who grew up in Hope Valley and now lives in Ashaway, said she’s remained at Wood River Health for decades because she believes in the work of community health centers.
“Whoever walks in the door, you don’t know what their life experience is,” she said. “The social mission is that everyone is treated the same.”
Wood River Health also announced Tuesday that it recently promoted nurse practitioner Shital Desai to associate medical director.
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Alex Nunes is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the South County Star. He has worked for two decades as a reporter, editor, and newsroom manager in Rhode Island and Southeastern Connecticut. A longtime public media journalist, his work has received national and regional recognition, including Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, a National Headliner Award, and honors from the Public Media Journalists Association. He lives in Westerly, Rhode Island, with his wife and two sons.
