Physician Group Practices

2022 rank Company | Website CEO/President Address Phone No. of local physicians No. of locations Specialties

1

2021: 1 Lifespan Physician Group Inc. |lifespan.org Dr. Steven Lampert, president 167 Point St. Providence,R.I.02903 (401) 444-4000

702

78 Cardiology, dermatology, neurosciences, pediatric and primary care, psychiatry and behavioral health, women's health

2

2021: 3

3

2021: 2 Brown Physicians Inc. |brownphysicians.org Dr. AngelaCaliendo, executive director

Southcoast Physicians Group |southcoast.org Dr. RayfordKruger, president 110 Elm St. Providence,R.I.02903 (877) 771-7401

450 William S. Canning Blvd. Fall River,Mass.02721 (844) 744-5544 474 1 19

363

51 Allergy and clinical immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatric and palliative medicine, hematology/oncology, emergency medicine, neurology, urology, primary care and surgical services

Cancer care, cardiology, dermatology, family medicine, OB-GYN, orthopedics, pain medicine, urgent care

4

2021: 6 Performance Physical Therapy | performanceptri.com MichelleCollie, owner and CEO 4 Richmond Square, Suite 200 Providence,R.I.02906 (401) 726-7100

108

19 Physical therapy and athletic training services

5

2021: 5 Coastal Medical Inc. |coastalmedical.com Dr. G. AlanKurose

6

2021: 7

7

2021: NL

8

2021: 9 Rhode Island Medical Imaging Inc. | rimirad.com Dr. JohnPezzullo, president

CharterCARE Medical Associates | chartercare.org MichalFrejka, vice president of practice operations

Providence Community Health Centers Inc. | providencechc.org Merrill R.Thomas

9

2021: 12

10

2021: 13 University Orthopedics Inc. | universityorthopedics.com Dr. EdwardAkelman, president

Orthopedics Rhode Island 2 |orthopedicsri.com Dr. Michael P.Bradley 10 Davol Square Providence,R.I.02903 (401) 421-4000

125 Metro Center Blvd. Warwick,R.I.02886 (401) 432-2400

50 Maude St. Providence,R.I.02908 (401) 456-2636

375 Allens Ave. Providence,R.I.02905 (401) 444-0400

1 Kettle Point Ave. East Providence,R.I.02914 (401) 443-5000

200 Crossings Blvd. Warwick,R.I.02886 (401) 777-7000

91

20

84 23

74 26

72 10

64 14

29

7 Primary health care practice

CT, DEXA, mammography, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray

Primary care, urology, general surgery, neurosurgery, endocrinology, family practice, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, infectious disease, neurology, pulmonary and sleep medicine, rheumatology

Provides adult medicine, asthma-allergy care, behavioral health, dental care, family medicine, health education, podiatry and urgent care

Musculoskeletal services

Hand, wrist and upper extremity, joint preservation and replacement, orthopedics, outpatient therapy, advanced imaging and a new surgery center

11

2021: 14

12

2021: 15 Medical Associates of Rhode Island Inc. | medassociatesofri.com Dr. PamelaHarrop, president

University Gastroenterology |universitygi.com JonathanFreedman, chief operating officer 1180 Hope St. Bristol,R.I.02809 (401) 253-8900

33 Staniford St. Providence,R.I.02905 (401) 421-8800

25

2

22

4 Internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, podiatry

Gastroenterology

13

2021: 16

14

2021: 17

15

2021: 18 Anchor Medical Associates | anchormedical.org Dr. Nathan B.Beraha, CEO and medical director

The Rhode Island Eye Institute | rieyeinstitute.com Dr. R. JeffreyHofmann, managing partner

Barrington Pediatric Associates Inc. | barringtonpediatrics.com RonniPeltz, managing partner 1 Commerce St. Lincoln,R.I.02865 (401) 793-8484

150 East Manning St. Providence,R.I.02906 (401) 272-2020

334D County Road Barrington,R.I.02806 (401) 247-2288

19

3

10 4

7

1 Primary care services for family medicine: echocardiography, pediatric cardiology

Corneal diseases and transplants, diabetic retinopathy, LASIK procedures, pediatric ophthalmology, reconstructive surgery of the eyes and face

Pediatrics

16

2021: 19

Rhode Island Ear, Nose & Throat Physicians

Inc. |rient.net BarryRafanelli, administrator 148 West River St., Suite 2A Providence,R.I.02904 (401) 728-0140

5

4 Allergies, hearing aids, ear, nose and throat

17

2021: 20 NorthMain Radiation Oncology | usoncology.com/patients/practices/northmainradiation-oncology NicklasOldenburg, president 825 North Main St. Providence,R.I.02904 (401) 521-9700

4

1 Radiation oncology

18

2021: 21

Cardiology Consultants LLC

Dr. AraSadaniantz 1 Randall Square, Suite 305 Providence,R.I.02904 (401) 223-0223

1

1 Cardiology

CLOSER LOOK Total number of local physicians: 2,154

Ranked by number of locations 1

Lifespan Corp.

No. of locations: 78 2

Southcoast Physicians Group

No. of locations: 51 3

CharterCARE Medical Associates

No. of locations: 26

LIST RESEARCHED BY James Bessette

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NL = Not listed last year.

FOOTNOTES j The count comprises physicians working for Brown Dermatology, Brown Emergency Medicine, Brown Medicine, Brown Neurology, Brown Surgical Associates and Brown Urology.  Also known as Ortho Rhode Island.

SAFE ZONES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The company is the only nursing home operator to become certified as an LGBTQ Safe Zone since it did so in late 2019, said Jodi Glass, an audiologist who sits on the board of trustees for Aldersbridge Communities.

“When I started doing work with folks who are in elder care, they would just go back into the closet. It was too painful,” said Glass, who helped introduce the safe zone certification to the organization, showing fellow board members a 2010 documentary called “Gen Silent” about seniors in Boston hiding their orientations to survive in the long-term health care system.

“These are folks who would really be isolated,” Glass said. “They would go to an elder site and not be who they are. It’s starting a life over again, where you’re not yourself. You’re just someone being housed. And that’s just pathetic. Nobody deserves that.”

The LGBTQ Safe Zone Program was created to help address the historical challenges facing the gay, lesbian and transgender community in accessing health care and offering an environment that’s inclusive, welcoming and affirming of their orientation. The goal is to ensure that members of the LGBTQ community have safe, equitable access to health care without fear of discrimination, according to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Certification requirements for LGBTQ Safe Zones include genderneutral bathrooms; annual staff training specific to the care of LGBTQ patients; clearly posted policies offering protection for patients and staff from discrimination based on gender identity or expression; inclusive intake forms, documents and procedures; and a public commitment to connecting with and serving the LGBTQ community.

Many safe zones also have signs to distinguish themselves and express pride in the designation, including the rainbow-colored upside-down BCBSRI Safe Zone triangle logo.

The program is unique and offered only through Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, spanning a variety of services, including behavioral and mental health, primary care, dental care, and organizations that assist victims of sexual assault and domestic violence across the state, according to the health insurance agency.

The latest provider to become certified as an LGBTQ Safe Zone is Coastal Medical Waterman Pediatrics, a group practice in East Providence. It’s the first pediatric primary care provider in the program, according to Blue Cross.

“LGBTQ youth face an even greater risk for negative health outcomes and severe threats to their physical and mental health and well-being than LGBTQ adults do,” said Jenny Bautista-Ravreby, BCBSRI’s diversity, equity and inclusion manager. “As we continue to do all we can to support young Rhode Islanders navigating their own physical and mental health and well-being, we invite other pediatric providers and specialists to consider applying to the program.”

Dr. Elizabeth Lange, a pediatrician at Coastal Medical Waterman Pediatrics and president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, said she’s glad about what it means for LGBTQ children treated by her practice.

“We want kids and teens to know that when they see the Safe Zone logo on the door at Waterman Pediatrics, they will receive compassionate, affirming care, and that we have resources at the ready for both patients and their families,” Lange said. “We know that school can be especially challenging for LGBTQ [youths] as well, so we have developed inclusive communications to schools, providing the patient’s name if it differs from their legal name in letters to the school.”

Scott Gowrie, corporate social responsibility specialist at BCBSRI, said applications to become a certified LGBTQ Safe Zone are processed on a biannual basis, with deadlines for submission on Feb. 15 and Aug. 15.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 24

‘It’s pretty groundbreaking what we’re doing.’

JODI GLASS, Aldersbridge Communities trustee and audiologist A sincere thank you to our patients

We appreciate the trust you place in our team of 500+ radiologists, technologists and staff. We’re honored that you choose us for your care.

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RHONDA WILLIGAN

Director, Customer Service 401.752.6212

rwilligan@deltadentalri.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 30 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 16

AT DELTA DENTAL OF RHODE ISLAND, Rhonda leads the customer service department where she and her team strive to help dentists, clients and members navigate the company’s industry-leading oral health benefits and care. Using the latest technology, Delta Dental provides an array of services through their website allowing members to find a dentist, review their benefits and check the status of claims. With so many resources available online, those reaching out to customer service are able to manage most issues they may have, but sometimes they need an extra hand. That’s where Rhonda’s team steps in. “We’re here to listen to their concerns,” explained Rhonda, “so that we may quickly and effectively resolve the matter. But we’ll take our time to make sure all of their issues are addressed.” And the results prove it. Surveys show that 96% of customers are satisfied overall with their Delta Dental experience. As a leader, Rhonda is a step above. She has built a strong team that meets and exceeds their goals every year, which explains the satisfied customers. Employee retention is great, too. The average tenure of her representatives is 8.7 years. The customer service team at Delta Dental of Rhode Island is ranked number one for many key service metrics among all of the Delta Dental companies across the country. This was even the case over the past two years during the challenging times caused by the pandemic. Together with her team, Rhonda provides the best service to dentists, clients and members so that they don’t have to worry about coverage and can focus on better oral health.

MELISSA GENNARI

Assistant Vice President, Compliance 401.752.6239 mgennari@deltadentalri.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 30 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 30 EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Boston College; Juris Doctor, Boston College Law School

MELISSA HOLDS DOWN THE FORT on an ever-expanding compliance landscape at Delta Dental of Rhode Island with energy and enthusiasm.

In this critical role, she strives to ensure that the company adheres to state and federal regulations that guarantee fairness and equity for members and dental providers. “My responsibility is to break down the rules and regulations so that people can understand them,” she explains. “Often the requirements can be complicated and cumbersome, but I find ways to simplify and communicate them to others in the company.” That includes implementing the latest recommendations on privacy and security and regularly training staff on how to protect the personal information of members and providers. “With heightened awareness of cyber-security issues in the public eye, we want our members to feel assured that we take the protection of their personal data very seriously.”

JUDY LOWEN

Assistant Vice President, Strategic Initiatives 401.752.6401 jlowen@deltadentalri.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 35 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 30 EDUCATION BA, College of the Holy Cross MBA, Healthcare Administration, Bryant University

AS THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT of Strategic Initiatives, Judy spearheads the implementation of new initiatives for Delta Dental of Rhode Island. One of her goals is to incorporate the latest technology at the company to expand services for members and providers while keeping the cost of insurance affordable. “The team at Delta Dental solves problems creatively as we increase functionality and access to resources for our customers and the dental community.” Judy is especially engaged in integrating tools that enhance valuebased care programs, increasing access to affordable oral care. To foster continuous improvement within the company, she focuses much of her time evaluating and mapping out enhancements to their claims processing system. “We’re always excited about adding the latest, most well-designed resources to our toolkit to streamline the delivery of care. It’s really important that we continually evolve and improve our efficiency while increasing customer satisfaction.”

DEANNE MEDOURIS

Lead Director, Retail Pharmacy Growth and Product Development Cvshealth.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 17 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 17

EDUCATION Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island

DEANNE IS DIRECTOR OF Retail Pharmacy Growth for CVS Health. She drives the company’s immunization program strategy across its 9,000+ retail pharmacy locations. Her experience as a frontline pharmacist combined with her deep knowledge of the product development process and passion for patient-centric solutions shapes her work positioning CVS Pharmacy as a destination for the public’s vaccine needs. Her team’s most notable achievement has been spearheading the effort bring COVID-19 vaccinations to stores, which has resulted in more than 60 million immunizations nationwide. Ensuring education and access in communities disproportionally impacted by the pandemic and establishing a workflow that ensured safe and convenient administration of the vaccine are other proud accomplishments. Deanne is a 2020-2021 graduate of Leaders of Tomorrow, CVS Health’s leadership development program. She has precepted many pharmacy students during their rotations over the years and is a member of the VIRTUAL colleague resource group that helps to promote connections, engagement and collaboration while working remotely.

PAPATYA TANKUT

Vice President, Human Resources, Retail Cvshealth.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 28 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 28 EDUCATION Licensed Pharmacist, Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy

PAPATYA IS VICE PRESIDENT of Retail Human Resources for CVS Health. She serves as a strategic HR business partner to the Clinical Trials Services and Return Ready teams, executing strategies that accelerate business performance and facilitate the achievement of business objectives. She also leads HR initiatives and company programs that support colleagues amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including policies and protocols to support a healthy workplace, and the company’s COVID-19 colleague vaccination program. Prir to her current role, Papatya served as Vice President of Pharmacy Affairs, where she led the corporate events team and was responsible for CVS Health’s public affairs strategy, which included deepening relationships with non-profit, governmental and other health-based organizations to raise awareness of the many ways CVS is helping people on their health care journey. In her 28 years with CVS, Papatya has also served as Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Services, as well as in other roles within the pharmacy business.

ANGELA PATTERSON

DNP, FNP-C, NEA-BC, FAANP

Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer, MinuteClinic Cvshealth.com/minuteclinic

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 35 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 15 EDUCATION Doctor of Nursing Practice, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professional

DR. ANGELA PATTERSON is an advanced practice registered nurse, Vice President at CVS Health, and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer of MinuteClinic. In her current role, Angela provides strategic clinical and professional practice leadership for the more than 3,500 Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Nurses who staff MinuteClinic locations in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

For nearly a decade, Angela has served as MinuteClinic’s top nurse leader and is deeply committed to delivering a quality experience for both MinuteClinic colleagues and patients. She has not only helped build the largest practice of retail health care clinicians in the United States, but has also guided MinuteClinic through five successful Joint Commission accreditation surveys and led the organization to be the first retail health organization awarded ANCC Pathway to Excellence® designation. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Angela has helped ensure MinuteClinic remained a trusted, safe, and accessible care delivery access point for patients across our communities.

MEREDITH DIXON

MSN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, MBA

Vice President, MinuteClinic Patient Care Delivery Cvshealth.com/minuteclinic

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 30 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 17 EDUCATION Master of Science, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Practice, WellStar Colleague of Health and Human Services; Master of Business, Strategic Design and Business, Kanbar College of Design Engineering and Commerce

MEREDITH IS A BOARD CERTIFIED Family Nurse Practitioner and Vice President of Patient Care Delivery at MinuteClinic. She leads a cross functional team that designs, implements, and optimizes clinical services and programs that expand the scope of practice for MinuteClinic Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Ancillary Nursing Staff. Meredith and her team work to ensure that MinuteClinic is focused on clinical quality, patient safety, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and service excellence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Meredith joined forces with colleagues from across the CVS Health Enterprise to lead a pandemic response team to rapidly develop ways to provide access to COVID-19 testing, immunizations, and most recently, treatments. CVS Health has conducted COVID-19 testing across the country in tents, community sites, pharmacies, kiosks, and other employer sponsored locations. While these programs continue to evolve as the public health demands change, thanks to the efforts of Meredith and her colleagues, CVS Health has administered more than 41 million COVID-19 tests and more than 50 million COVID-19 vaccines.

RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL IMAGING (RIMI) | rimirad.com

JOANN BARBATO

Chief Operating Officer, Patient Financial Services 401.432.2400

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 35 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 19 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE School of Medical Secretarial Sciences and Healthcare Management

JOANN BARBATO has spent her career helping provide patients the highest level of health care services and supporting health care workers through her operational roles. She brings experience in patient financial services, contracting, auditing, negotiations and compliance. She is also responsible for credentialing, authorizations and scheduling. JoAnn began at Rhode Island Medical Imaging (RIMI) more than 19 years ago, where she quickly became an indispensable asset and grew within the company. Currently, JoAnn is responsible for all aspects of RIMI’s revenue which is generated by 14 free standing facilities and nine major hospitals in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. “We are so excited to recognize JoAnn and her outstanding achievements as a Notable Woman in Health Care,” said Dr. John A. Pezzullo, president, RIMI. “Her dedicated work, extensive knowledge and collaborative team approach have contributed to RIMI’s continuing growth and, most importantly, our mission to provide the highest quality of care to our patients.”

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND | ccri.edu

SUZANNE CARR, PHD, RN

Dean, Health and Rehabilitative Sciences scarr7@ccri.edu

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 28 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 3 EDUCATION PhD in Nursing from URI, Masters of Nursing Education from URI, BS in Nursing from URI

WITH MORE THAN 16 years of experience in nursing academia, Dr. Suzanne Carr provides leadership and oversight to CCRI’s Health and Rehabilitative Science degree and certificate programs, including nursing, dental health, radiography, occupational and physical therapy, radiography, and respiratory therapy, among others. Her combination of research and classroom experience and deep knowledge of grant writing and interprofessional education has led to her success in contributing positively to the college and the success of our healthcare students.

Under her leadership, CCRI has solidified its role as a regional leader in health care education that meets the workforce needs of our partners in the health care industry. During her tenure at CCRI, Dr. Carr has successfully led the re-accreditation for the Nursing Department and oversaw the implementation of the $1.9 million Healthcare Workforce Transformational Grant to advance initiatives of Diversity, Interprofessional Education, Mental Health First Aid, and Continuing Education.

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LISA STABILE

Director, Sales & Client Relations 401.457.7279

lstabile@altusdental.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 27

YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 20 EDUCATION Johnson & Wales University

“IT’S EXCITING TO KNOW people are gaining access to richer benefits while saving money. Ultimately, we hope that leads to better oral health care for our members.” That’s the philosophy of Lisa Stabile, Director of Sales & Client Relations at Altus Dental. She’s been with the dental benefits company since its launch and is proud of their success. For twenty years, Altus Dental has delivered flexible, comprehensive dental plans and Lisa has been an integral part of the company’s growth. They’ve done so well that they have been listed repeatedly among the fastest growing Rhode Island companies in Providence Business News. Lisa and the team at Altus take a unique approach to servicing their clients, staying engaged throughout their long relationship, instead of handing them off to other representatives once they’re on board. “I have relationships with clients that go back to 2007 or even longer. Once they’re on board with Altus, they can trust that we will take good care of them. I don’t want them to worry about a thing.” This year, Lisa is excited to be involved in the launch of a new line of insurance: vision care through Altus Vision. The company partnered with VSP, the national leader in vision care to offer new benefit programs for businesses. “We kept hearing from clients that there were very few options for affordable, quality vision insurance so we reached out to VSP to create this new partnership and I think customers are going to be really happy with it.” As Altus Dental expands its offerings to include vision, the result will be more choices for businesses and consumers and better access to healthcare for everyone.

KRISTYN BOURNE

Account Executive, Sales & Client Relations 401.457.7257 kbourne@altusdental.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 13 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 13 EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing, URI

KRISTYN HELPS CONNECT businesses across Massachusetts with quality, affordable dental insurance. The goal is to have their employees take good care of their oral health which contributes to better overall health and wellness - something that’s critical to every company’s bottom line. Since 2018, she has worked with employers as an account executive at Altus Dental, building strong long-lasting relationships, the key to the insurer’s success.

“It feels great to connect with our clients, developing relationships and helping to provide a great product to their employees.” Working one-on-one with each client, Kristyn partners with them to create plans that meet their goals and ensure employees will take advantage of their benefits. In a world where purchasing healthcare can be confusing, intimidating and costly, Kristyn and the folks at Altus Dental strive to provide an easy and enjoyable experience for their members.

JENNIFER ROUSSEAU

Director of Strategic Initiatives 401.437.8792 jrousseau@chewsidental.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 12 YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 4.5 EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, Bryant University

JENNIFER RUNS THE CORPORATE venture fund, Altus Ventures, which works with businesses in the oral health sector to improve access and delivery of care through investment and partnership. In her role, Jennifer also helps the company identify innovative healthcare concepts and bring them to the market. Altus Ventures has partnered with a number of companies over the years that are improving access to care including telehealth, smoking cessation and sleep apnea screening through a range of products and services. “I enjoy working with startup founders across our community to assist with bringing innovative products to market. The passion these entrepreneurs have for their initiatives is inspiring, and I love working with people who share a common mission of improving access to care within our communities.” Not only does Jennifer’s work support the growth of these new businesses, but her focus on healthcare-related opportunities ensures exciting developments in the field that will ultimately result in improved health and wellness for everyone.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

“Sometimes we have collaborative partnerships with applicants to make improvements to their procedures and policies to help them get to a point where they need to be to become certified,” Gowrie said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm around the certification, particularly among prospective applicants that are already showing a commitment to LGBTQ affirmation. They see it as a journey.”

Providers and other communitybased organizations can apply to become an LGBTQ Safe Zone by going online to www.bcbsri.com/providers/safezone-program.

Back at the Aldersbridge Communities facility in East Providence, Glass said the introduction of an LGBTQ Safe Zone doesn’t always mean that everyone who is not currently accepting of gay people will change their ways. But it’s making a difference, prompting conversations and making people feel welcome who otherwise would feel out of place.

“I have to believe that in many cases it may have softened a heart,” Glass said. “It’s pretty groundbreaking what we’re doing around our building.” n

SPECIAL DESIGNATION: Jodi Glass, an audiologist and trustee of Aldersbridge Communities, which operates assisted living facilities in Rhode Island, says the organization’s sites have been certified LGBTQ Safe Zones since 2019. Part of the requirements are gender-neutral bathrooms.

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