Our Leadership

Executive Leadership Team

Peter M. Marino | President and Chief Executive Officer

Peter M. Marino started his tenure at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island in September 2014. As CEO, he oversees all aspects of the health plan. Before joining Neighborhood, he was Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget. Previously, he was the Rhode Island Senate Fiscal Advisor, Director of Research and Policy for the Providence-based RDW Group, and Director of Policy and Municipal Affairs for the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC). Mr. Marino also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Brown University’s Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions. He holds a Bachelor’s in Science degree from James Madison University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Marylou Buyse, MD, MS | Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Marylou Buyse is Neighborhood’s Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Buyse joined Neighborhood in December 2018, bringing with her a deep expertise in care management redesign, focused on providing members in government programs with comprehensive, coordinated care management.  She has extensive experience in population health, quality, utilization management and medical policy development. Dr. Buyse has served in various clinical leadership roles at health plans, including Highmark, United Healthcare of New England and Scott & White Health Plan of Texas. She also served as the President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Buyse provides clinical leadership for all Medical Management and Evaluation and Improvement. In addition, she oversees Pharmacy and Behavioral Health service operations as well as the Department of Primary Care which includes Health@Home. Dr. Buyse has served on various boards, committees, and commissions including the Massachusetts Health Council, Massachusetts Cost and Quality Council, Commission to End Cervical Cancer, and the Massachusetts Health Data Consortium. She also has been affiliated with many professional organizations spanning over 20 years, including American Medical Women’s Association, Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, Massachusetts Medical Society, Rhode Island’s American Cancer Society and Rhode Island’s American Heart Association. Dr. Buyse is also a member of Leadership Rhode Island class of 2000. Dr. Buyse holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College, a Master of Science from University of Wisconsin in preventative health and administrative medicine, and a medical degree from Drexel University. She did her residency and a fellowship at LAC-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles and is board-certified in pediatrics, medical genetics and medical management.

David Burnett | Chief Growth Officer

Dave Burnett

In April 2018, David Burnett was named Chief Growth Officer (CGO).  Mr. Burnett oversees the company’s three product lines: Medicaid, Medicare-Medicaid, and Commercial.  He is also responsible for Neighborhood’s strategic planning and business development, marketing and communications, and project management office. Prior to his role as chief growth officer, Mr. Burnett joined Neighborhood as its first-ever chief of staff in 2015. In that role, he worked closely with the CEO and senior leadership to support Neighborhood’s mission by improving interdepartmental communications, measuring success, and ensuring accountability. In May 2017, Mr. Burnett assumed the role of acting chief operating officer to oversee Neighborhood’s operational areas including Provider Network Management, Member Services, and Claims.  Prior to joining Neighborhood, he served as the Associate Director for Governmental and Public Affairs, and then as the Deputy Secretary, for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Additionally, he held government affairs-related positions with Tufts Health Plan (MA), the administration of Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, and the Rhode Island Department of Health. Mr. Burnett holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Business Administration from Bryant University.

Douglas Byrd | Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Vice President & General Counsel

Doug Byrd is the General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, responsible for Legal, Compliance, Information Security, Enterprise Risk Management and Human Resources. Prior to joining Neighborhood in 2015, Mr. Byrd was General Counsel and Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer for Univita Health; Associate General Counsel at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island; Operations Counsel at Healthways; General Counsel for Axia Health Management, and General Counsel for American WholeHealth. Prior to his in-house experience, Mr. Byrd was a partner in the health care department of McDermott, Will & Emery, an international law firm, and with Sulloway & Hollis, a large regional New England law firm. Mr. Byrd is a member of the Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire Bar Associations. Before practicing law, Mr. Byrd developed and operated medical practice networks in Massachusetts and Texas, and developed provider-sponsored managed care organizations throughout the United States. Mr. Byrd holds a Bachelor of Science, with honors, in Business and Economics from Frostburg State University in Maryland; a Master of Health Services Administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; and a law degree, with honors, from New England Law, Boston, Massachusetts.

Peter Lymm | Chief Operating Officer

In his capacity as Neighborhood’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter Lymm directs and coordinates the efforts of several departments that are instrumental in connecting Neighborhood’s members and providers with the level of care and support they need and deserve. Mr. Lymm oversees our Provider Network Management, Claims, Member Services, Grievance and Appeals, and Analytics Departments. Additionally, he directs the efforts of our Information Services teams and our Strategic Transformation Office. Mr. Lymm joined Neighborhood in April 2018, bringing with him a long track record of innovative thinking and significant healthcare operations management expertise. His previous roles include Vice President of Operations at American Well, a healthcare IT company in the emerging telehealth/telemedicine industry, Chief of Sales and Administrative Officer at Chenmed, a leader in delivering innovative care to Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible members and other executive roles with health plans and healthcare providers such as Aetna, Samsung and Yale New Haven Health . Additionally, Mr. Lymm served on the Board of Directors for SolBridge University in South Korea. He has also been part of the Admissions Network with the University of Rochester, served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA and the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Peter holds a BA from the University of Rochester, double majoring in psychology and healthcare management. He holds an MBA from the University of New Haven. Peter is also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and holds a Certificate of Project Management from Boston University.

Frank Meaney  | Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President

Frank Meaney began serving as Neighborhood’s Chief Financial Officer in September 2015. In this position, he oversees all aspects of financial operations, budgeting, fiscal analysis, and accounting. Previously, Mr. Meaney was Vice President of Operations and Controller Health New England. As Controller, he provided executive leadership and oversight of accounting and general ledger activities, budgeting, statutory and tax reporting, and compliance and internal control, among other responsibilities. He has also held senior management positions at insurance companies, Aetna and Cigna. Mr. Meaney earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.