Merrill Thomas to Retire After 25 Years of Service as President and CEO
Merrill Thomas, who has helped transform community health care in Rhode Island’s capital city over the past 25 years as President and CEO of Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC), will retire at the end of this year.
The PCHC Board of Directors is following its established succession plan, including hiring a national firm to conduct the search process. PCHC expects to have a new President and CEO in place by the fall, ensuring a smooth transition.
Merrill leaves a legacy of fierce advocacy for community health centers and sustained leadership in overseeing dramatic growth in the number of patients receiving care, services offered, and facilities opened. During his tenure as CEO, PCHC grew from serving 18,000 patients to 85,000 patients. Today, more than 40% of Providence residents receive care at PCHC. During the same period, the organization’s workforce grew from fewer than 100 employees to approximately 500.
“Merrill has been a transformative leader in community health, fighting to ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to high-quality, comprehensive care,” said Michael Cancilliere, Chairman of the PCHC Board of Directors. “He has been a leading voice at the State House and in Washington, D.C., advocating for adequate funding for community health centers so we can care for those who otherwise might not have access to care. His legacy is one of growth, service, and caring.”
Since being named CEO in 2001, Merrill has overseen the opening of four new health centers, renovations at several existing locations, and the launch of numerous specialty programs.
Recent milestones include:
- February 2025: The Broad Street Clinic, formerly located in the basement of Crossroads Rhode Island, opened in a new location to continue serving patients experiencing homelessness and other community members in need of care.
- August 2024: PCHC opened an expanded adult dental services site, helping address the critical shortage of dental care for underserved patients, many of whom are insured through Medicaid.
- March 2022: PCHC opened PCHC Atwood in Olneyville, one of Providence’s most underserved neighborhoods. During its first year, the health center recorded 34,000 patient visits and provided access to a wide range of health services.
- Fall 2014: PCHC opened its Prairie Avenue campus, offering primary and specialty care, adult and pediatric dental clinics, Express Care, optometry, podiatry, and other essential services.
“What has remained the same in my 25 years as CEO is the commitment of providers and staff to deliver quality health care,” said Merrill. “There has always been the desire to do more and better for our patients. My job was to get the resources, space, and new systems to allow us to do just that. The commitment to our patients has always—and will continue to—drive us in all our decision-making. I look forward to helping the new CEO continue this advocacy for our patients and community.”
During his 25 years as CEO, Merrill also led renovations at several PCHC locations, most recently the Central and Capitol health centers. PCHC has consistently ranked among the nation’s top-performing community health centers and has received the prestigious “Gold Tier” Health Center Quality Leader recognition from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Merrill joined PCHC in 1997 as Director of Finance and Operations. He has therefore served as a member of the leadership team at Rhode Island’s largest community health center for exactly half of the organization’s existence.
Throughout his career, Merrill has served on dozens of boards, including the National Association of Community Health Centers, Health Choice Care, Commonwealth Advisory Board, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Health Center Association.