Our Leadership

Dr. Alastair Bell oversees the comprehensive system strategy and operations of BMCHS' entities, including BMC, Boston Accountable Care Organization, Clearway Health, and the WellSense Health Plan.

Prior to joining in 2012, Dr. Bell was a leader in the North American payor and provider practice at McKinsey and Company, advising a range of national and international healthcare organizations and leading large-scale transformation programs. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Oxford, his Master of Arts in physiology from the University of Cambridge, and his Master of Business Administration with distinction from Harvard Business School. Dr. Bell currently serves as co-chair of the board for the Boston Children’s Chorus.

Watch Dr. Alastair Bell talk about his vision for BMC and the future of healthcare.

Heather Thiltgen oversees the overall financial and administrative operations of WellSense. She works closely with state and federal government entities, regulatory groups, healthcare providers, and other external agencies to address the medical and social needs of more than 400,000 members.

Prior to joining in 2020, Thiltgen served in leadership roles at Medical Mutual of Ohio, CUNA Mutual Group, United Services Automobile Association, and the M/A/R/C® Group. She received her Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.

Nicole Faucher oversees the executive team at Clearway Health, a specialty pharmacy program created to serve BMC and its patients, and is responsible for the company’s strategic plan, financial performance, technology delivery, operations, market expansion, and client development.

Prior to joining in 2021, Faucher served in leadership roles at Allscripts, MedQuest Associates, and HealthScreen America. She received her Master of Science from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech. Faucher serves as an advisory board member for the University of North Carolina - Charlotte.

David Beck oversees the health system's legal matters, corporate compliance, and captive insurance company.

Prior to joining in 2007, Beck served as deputy chief of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Public Protection Bureau. He received his Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Bob Biggio oversees sustainability initiatives and major capital projects, with the goal of furthering BMCHS’ leadership in green healthcare.

Prior to joining in 2011, Biggio served in executive roles for Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and Hallmark Health System. He received his Bachelor of Science in marine engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 

Cindy Bo oversees the health system’s strategic plan and priorities with an emphasis on healthcare innovation, growth, and community and behavioral health integration.

Prior to joining in 2024, Bo served as the senior vice president of strategy and business development for the Delaware Valley at Nemours, one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems. She also held consulting and business planning roles at Deloitte, Booz Allen, and Novartis AG and is an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow. Bo received her Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School and her bachelor's degree in marketing and management information systems from Binghamton University.

Joy Brown oversees the health system’s digital, technology, cybersecurity, and information strategy.

Prior to joining in 2024, Brown served as the chief data officer at Verizon Media; led the credit card global data, analytics, and machine learning function at Capital One; and held key positions at UnitedHealth Group, Vanguard, and General Electric. She received her Master of Business Administration from Saint Joseph’s University and her bachelor's degree in information systems and data engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Watch Joy Brown talk about improving the patient experience through the development and enhancement of BMCHS' digital health capabilities.

Lisa Kelly-Croswell oversees human resources, occupational health, and volunteer services and leads organizational growth strategies for the health system.

Prior to joining in 2013, Kelly-Croswell held a wide range of human resources leadership roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Nitromed Inc., CIGNA, Monsanto, and Frito-Lay. She received her Master of Arts in labor and industrial relations and her Bachelor of Science in finance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kelly-Croswell currently serves on the board of directors for two public biotech companies and several non-profit organizations.

Rachel Felix oversees marketing, development, and community engagement to deepen BMCHS’ relationship with all audiences and further the organization’s mission.

Prior to joining in 2022, Felix served as vice president and head of brand management at Mass General Brigham and was senior vice president of partner marketing at Paramount. She received her Master of Business Administration from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Michigan. Felix currently serves on the board of directors at several Boston and national non-profit organizations.

Watch Rachel Felix talk about how she’s elevating the brand of BMCHS to help drive better outcomes for our patients and families.

Melissa Monahan is responsible for advising the CEO and health system leadership on a range of internal and external issues and initiatives. She is also the central point of contact for ensuring the strategic coordination of the CEO's activities and engagements.

Prior to joining, Monahan was senior vice president of the non-profit, healthcare, and education practice at Rasky Partners, a leading independent public relations and public affairs firm. She received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Terri Newsom oversees all financial planning and operations for the system, which has an annual operating revenue of $6 billion.

Prior to joining in 2020, Newsom served in senior finance and chief financial officer roles at Prisma Health, Greenville Health System, Duke University Health System, and Duke Raleigh Hospital. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Appalachian State University. 

Jesse Souweine is responsible for strategy implementation and organizational alignment in pursuit of the health system’s institutional goals.

Prior to joining in 2023, Souweine was executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where she oversaw the institute’s administration, finance, and operations with the aim of accelerating scientific discovery. She received her Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and her Bachelor of Arts in American studies from Cornell University. Souweine currently serves on the boards of several community organizations.

Dr. Thea James oversees BMCHS’ relationships and strategic alliances with local, state, and national partners to meet the full spectrum of essentials that enables patients and communities to thrive. She is also an associate professor of emergency medicine and director of the Violence Intervention Advocacy Program.

Dr. James has held a number of public health and health equity-related positions in her 27-year tenure at BMC, as well as practicing as an emergency room physician. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Georgetown University School of Medicine and trained in emergency medicine at Boston City Hospital, where she was chief resident.

Rob Koenig oversees special projects and new initiatives, including partnerships with government, for the health system.

Prior to joining, Koenig held a range of roles at the Harvard Kennedy School, Bain & Company, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the William J. Clinton Foundation. He received his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and his bachelor’s degree in earth and planetary sciences from Harvard College.

Markeisha Marshall oversees communication strategies and functions to promote BMCHS' commitment to clinical excellence and health equity.

Prior to joining in 2023, Marshall served as head of public affairs at Adobe and was the inaugural leader of environmental, social and governance (ESG) at AbbVie. She received her master’s degree in health communication from Northwestern University and her bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science from Eastern Michigan University.

Petrina Martin Cherry is responsible for leading all external affairs and community engagement outreach for the health system, with an eye to healthcare equity, social determinants of health, diversity, and inclusion.

Prior to joining in 2016, Martin Cherry spent 15 years in entertainment marketing and media training for celebrities and non-profit organizations. She received her Executive Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson School of Business and her bachelor's degree from University of South Carolina. Martin Cherry currently serves on the advisory board for The Boys and Girls Club of Boston, ArtsEmerson at Emerson College, and Boston Arts Academy, and is co-chair of the Women’s Forum for the National Association of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Elena Mendez-Escobar co-leads BMC’s innovation portfolio in health equity and social determinants of health and oversees the Grayken Center for Addiction.

Prior to joining, Dr. Mendez-Escobar was an associate partner at McKinsey & Company and co-founded its Center for Societal Benefit through Healthcare. She received her Doctor of Philosophy from University of Edinburgh and her Master of Business Administration from MIT.

Melissa Shannon is responsible for government affairs for the health system, advancing BMCHS’ fiscal and community agenda and overseeing advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels.

Prior to joining, Shannon led the policy agenda for Commonwealth Care Alliance and held a number of leadership positions in Massachusetts healthcare policy, including at Boston Children’s Hospital, Health Care for All, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, as well as at the MA State Senate. She received her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law and her bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University.

Dr. David Twitchell oversees all pharmacy operations and clinical activity for the hospital, its clinics, and the retail, specialty, mail order, and health insurance departments.

Prior to joining, Dr. Twitchell founded and operationalized a company dedicated to helping heath systems develop specialty pharmacy services. He was also a critical care clinical specialist and the director of pharmacy at Colorado-area medical centers. Dr. Twitchell received his Doctorate of Pharmacy and his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy studies from the University of Connecticut College of Pharmacy.