President and CEO, Executive Leadership
Alison Croke brings more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, with a strong focus on publicly financed health programs and advancing care for underserved populations. Her expertise spans program development, health policy, strategic planning and organizational leadership, all grounded in a deep commitment to improving access and outcomes for safety net patients and their families.
Since becoming Chief Executive Officer of Wood River Health in 2018, Alison has led a period of significant growth and transformation for the organization. Under her leadership, Wood River Health has nearly doubled its patient population, expanded its workforce and increased access to integrated primary care, behavioral health and dental services across southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. She has overseen major capital investments, including a $6 million expansion of the Hope Valley health center, and the growth of additional service locations in Westerly and on Block Island, improving access to care for rural and coastal communities.
Croke is recognized as a strong advocate for community health and has helped elevate regional and national awareness of the critical role federally qualified health centers play in delivering accessible, affordable care. She has been invited to national forums to represent the needs of community health centers and has been a leading voice on the importance of Medicaid in supporting patients and families. Alison was recently appointed to the Health Policy Committee for the National Association of Community Health Centers.
Prior to joining Wood River Health, Alison Croke served as Vice President of Medicare-Medicaid Integration at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, where she oversaw complex initiatives to improve care coordination for dual-eligible populations. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, where she helped develop and implement key Medicaid managed care programs, including RIte Smiles and Rhody Health Partners.
Alison also served as a senior project manager at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and as a program officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies in Princeton, New Jersey, where she focused on advancing systems of care for individuals with chronic illness and disabilities, children with special needs and other vulnerable populations. We can probably delete this is you want. Unless you think it’s still relevant.
Croke holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia. She is an active volunteer serving on several community boards, including the Jonnycake Center for Hope. She also serves on several professional Boards including Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, where she currently serves as Chair. She also serves as Secretary of the Board of the RI Health Center Association.