Hope Valley, RI (July 14, 2026) – Wood River Health is pleased to announce the promotion of Lisa Menard-Manlove, MD, FAAFP, MHM to Chief Medical Officer (CMO). A respected physician and clinical leader, Dr. Menard-Manlove has served Wood River Health for more than 22 years, helping advance its mission to provide high-quality, compassionate and affordable health care.
"Dr. Menard-Manlove's promotion reflects both her exceptional leadership and our commitment to developing talent from within," said Alison L. Croke, President and CEO of Wood River Health. "For more than 22 years, Lisa has cared for generations of our community’s families while helping Wood River Health grow and evolve. Her deep understanding of our patients, providers and mission makes her uniquely qualified to serve as Chief Medical Officer and lead our clinical team into the future."
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Menard-Manlove will provide strategic leadership for Wood River Health's medical services, clinical quality initiatives and provider team. She will work closely with leadership and staff to strengthen patient-centered care, improve health outcomes and advance innovative approaches to primary care delivery.
Most recently serving as Associate Medical Director, Dr. Menard-Manlove has supported provider development, quality improvement efforts and interdisciplinary care teams across the organization. Her promotion reflects Wood River Health's continued investment in developing clinical leaders from within.
"Wood River Health has been my professional home for more than 22 years, and it has been a privilege to care for patients and families throughout our community during that time. I am grateful for the opportunity to step into this role and work alongside such a dedicated team. Our focus remains the same: providing high-quality, compassionate care and ensuring that patients have access to the services they need, when they need them."
Dr. Menard-Manlove earned her medical degree from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and completed her Family Medicine residency before joining Wood River Health more than two decades ago. In 2024, she earned a Master of Healthcare Management degree from the University of Rhode Island. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to advancing quality, improving access to care and fostering a collaborative, patient-centered approach to medicine.
As part of its ongoing commitment to leadership development and clinical excellence, Wood River Health also recently promoted Shital Desai, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, to Associate Medical Director. In her new role, Desai will partner closely with Dr. Menard-Manlove and the clinical leadership team to support quality initiatives, provider engagement and patient-centered care across the health center.
About Wood River Health
Founded in 1976, Wood River Health is a private, nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center serving southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. The organization provides integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and social support services to 12,000 patients each year.
Guided by its mission to provide high-quality and affordable health care through a compassionate, team-based approach, Wood River Health is committed to ensuring that every member of its community experiences physical, emotional and social well-being.
Recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, Wood River Health receives funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program to provide care in medically underserved communities.
For more information, visit WoodRiverHealth.org.
