Merrill R. Thomas

Merrill has more than 30 years of non-profit management experience with expertise in community health center operations and management. He joined Providence Community Health Centers, Inc. (PCHC) in 1997 as Director of Finance and Operations and was named CEO in 2001. Under his stewardship, PCHC has grown to be a leading contributor to the city’s economy and community redevelopment, and now serves 50,000 patients through 10 locations including state-of-the-art health centers, dental clinics, an optometry clinic, a school-based clinic, and a health center for homeless patients. PCHC has 425 employees and is the largest community health center in Rhode Island. Prior to joining PCHC, Merrill was Chief Financial Officer of Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center in Massachusetts.

He received his MBA with a focus on health care administration from Providence College, and his bachelor's degree in economics from University of Washington. Merrill is a board member and treasurer of The Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, a Medicaid HMO, and Rhode Island Health Center Association. He is also a board member of Commonwealth Advisory Board and Health Choice Network, and an active member of NACHC.