Deborah O’Brien is ‘exceptional leader driving a culture of clinical excellence’

The URI College of Nursing honored the career of an alumna who has made a tremendous impact on health care with one of the College’s highest honors during the Distinguished Achievement Awards ceremony on Oct. 5.

Deborah M. O’Brien, BS, RN, MPA is president and chief operating officer of The Providence Center, also serving as de-facto chief nursing officer for the center. She joined The Providence Center in 1995, first as the director of quality improvement, and was named chief program officer in 2004. She became the organization’s chief operating officer in 2009, and was named vice president in 2012, before assuming the role of president in 2017.

The Providence Center is a behavioral health care system serving adults and children affected by psychological illness, emotional issues and addiction. The center provides mental health and substance use services in patients’ homes, schools and neighborhoods. It is a “system in which every individual who needs care will receive the broadest possible array of services, so that his or her unique needs are met.”

O’Brien began working in health care as a staff nurse at Rhode Island Hospital, and started in the behavioral health field at South Shore Mental Health Center in Charlestown, R.I. There, she went on to hold management roles in various departments, including psychiatric services, rehab services and the emergency and assessment service team. During her full-time employment at South Shore, she also worked part-time for Hospice care.

O’Brien has also been involved with a number of boards and professional affiliations, including URI’s Nursing Advisory Board and About Families, Inc. She has both a nursing degree and a master’s degree in public administration from URI.

“Deb is an exceptional leader driving a culture of clinical excellence to meet the behavioral health needs of Rhode Island’s families and communities in her role as president and chief operating officer of The Providence Center and as senior vice president of nursing for Care New England,” said College of Nursing Dean Barbara Wolfe, who presented her with the award. “She is an outstanding and dedicated alum who has provided extraordinary volunteer leadership to the College and University at-large.”

The Distinguished Achievement Awards honor alumni, corporations and friends who personify URI’s tradition of excellence in professional achievement, leadership contributions, community service, and philanthropic endeavors, thereby bringing distinction to themselves and to the University of Rhode Island.