MARK MARCANTANO was recently hired as the new chief operating officer for Meeting Street. Marcantano has worked in the health care industry for 21 years, recently serving as general manager of health care at Exochain PBC in Kennebunk, Maine. Prior to that, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for three years at Women & Infants Hospital, then served as president and chief operating officer for four years. Marcantano will oversee Meeting Street’s direct service programs, including early childhood and school-age programs, at its Providence, Dartmouth and New Bedford campuses.
What drew you to wanting to work in the health care industry, specifically with the well-being of children? My career path is truly an example of the adage: “You never know who is watching your work, so always do your best!” Early in my career as a lawyer, I was given a pivotal opportunity to work within the amazing field of academic medicine, where I was able to play a meaningful role in ensuring highest-quality health care delivery, training the next generation of the best and brightest caregivers, and advancing research and discovery of new therapies and cures. To have the privilege of focusing on children and families at world-class institutions has been the gift of a lifetime.
In your career, what would you say is your highest achievement thus far? I would have to say serving as the president and COO of Women & Infants Hospital, working alongside so many talented caregivers, administrators and staff as part of the Care New England leadership team.
What are your plans for Meeting Street as chief operating officer? My first step is to learn more about Meeting Street within the context of my new role, establishing strong relationships with the great people and entities that help make Meeting Street so exceptional. I will also play a key role in developing Meeting Street’s new strategic plan, working with our board and leadership team to identify opportunities for impact through our campuses in Providence, Dartmouth and New Bedford.
Where do you see the most need when it comes to early-childhood development? The single-largest determinant of an early-childhood developmental delay is poverty, which is why I believe Meeting Street’s mission – to compassionately and innovatively empower children and their families to thrive by fostering development of the whole child – is a powerful starting point to ensure the biggest impact within the communities we serve. Meeting Street is evaluating all of our early-childhood programs and determining how we can combine the agency’s vanguard educational programs with new research and innovations to better support our children and their families on their journey to success.
