About Lifespan Leadership

Formed in 1994, Lifespan is a not-for-profit health system based in Providence, RI comprising three teaching hospitals of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University : Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital ; The Miriam Hospital ; and Bradley Hospital , the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children; Newport Hospital , a community hospital offering a broad range of health services; Gateway Healthcare , the state’s largest provider of community behavioral health care; Lifespan Physician Group , the largest multi-specialty practice in Rhode Island; and Coastal Medical , a primary care driven medical practice. All Lifespan hospitals are charitable organizations that depend on support from the community to provide programs and services.

The structure of Lifespan, as well as its philanthropy program, has been designed to provide economies of scale while maintaining the strengths, community ties, and distinct “brand” of each affiliate. At the system level, Lifespan is governed by a corporate Board of Directors. Each Lifespan not-for-profit affiliate has its own 501(c)(3) foundation and board whose members serve as volunteer leaders, goodwill ambassadors, fundraisers, and donors.

Lifespan recently named John Fernandez as President and CEO following a 16-year tenure as President of Mass Eye and Ear. Fernandez also served as President of Mass General Brigham (MGB) Integrated Care. Prior to his Mass Eye and Ear appointment, he was a member of the executive team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. As President of The Miriam Hospital, Maria Ducharme, DNP, RN, NEA-BC , is the driving force behind the hospital’s most ambitious and successful efforts to achieve excellence in quality patient care, including attainment of Magnet recognition, considered the gold standard for nursing care. Ducharme has spent her entire career at the hospital, beginning as a cardiovascular medical/surgical nurse and progressing to leadership roles in inpatient nursing, respiratory therapy, and rehabilitation services, including serving as senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer, prior to her appointment as President.