Today Lifespan announced that Carrie Bridges Feliz has been promoted to vice president of community health and equity. She will lead Lifespan’s efforts to improve health access for underserved populations and to mitigate social determinants of health.
“Lifespan’s community health programs have grown in size and prominence over the time Carrie has been at the helm and she is highly regarded throughout the community for her work,” said Lifespan President and CEO Timothy J. Babineau, MD. “Carrie’s leadership has had a profound and lasting effect on the communities Lifespan serves.”
Bridges Feliz joined Lifespan in 2015 as the Director of the Lifespan Community Health Institute. Under her leadership, the Institute became a regionally recognized leader in public health affairs, establishing new health promotion and disease prevention programs and partnerships, anchoring community health workers in the Lifespan system, and scaling the Connect for Health program that annually screens more than 3,000 low-income pediatric and adult patients for health-related social needs and helps them access care and supports that improve household stability.
“Carrie’s commitment to meeting and serving the community where they are with critical support is undeniable,” said Lisa Abbott, senior vice president human resources and community affairs. “The day-to-day work and effort put forth by Carrie and her team to help create healthy conditions for the community really typifies our Lifespan core values.”
Bridges Feliz serves on the board of directors of numerous non-profit organizations including the Rhode Island Foundation, City Year Providence, Greenwood Credit Union and the Rhode Island Free Clinic, where she is vice president of the board. She also serves as vice chair of the board of trustees of the Paul Cuffee School. Bridges Feliz holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Duke University and a master’s degree in public health from Boston University.
“Lifespan is committed to advancing equity by creating the conditions that promote health where people live, learn, work and play,” said Bridges Feliz. “I am proud to work for an organization that values and invests in community health and well-being. It is an honor to serve the residents of Rhode Island as Lifespan’s vice president of community health and equity.”