Meet Our Team
Clinical Staff
Cathleen S. Hood, MD
Founding partner and medical director of Primary Care Partnership
Dr. Hood is a Family Physician with 40 years' experience. A native of Rhode Island, she earned her BA in Comparative Literature in 1979 and MD in 1982, both at Brown University. She has been on the Brown University Medical School faculty since 1986, currently as Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. Dr. Hood completed residency training in Family Medicine at The Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, RI in 1985, and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Hood practiced at Westport Family Medicine Center from 1993 to 2000, until opening Primary Care Partnership in Fall River in 2001. After 7 years there, she moved the practice back to the renovated Macomber-Kirkaldy House in Westport, former office and home of friend and mentor Dr. Stewart Kirkaldy. Thirteen years later she moved back to 829 Main Road, coming full circle to newly renovated space.
Early work experience included providing care to underprivileged children at the Tiverton New Visions Health Clinic, gynecological care through the VNA Clinic in Newport, and 8 years' experience working in the Trauma and Urgent Visit Units of Harvard-Pilgrim Health Care, formerly RIGHA. In addition she has provided legal consultation and expert medical review and testimony. Dr. Hood has established a research relationship with Brown University, providing collaboration in the field of mindfulness and meditation practice and its physiological benefits
In 2013, she joined Primacare, and soon after that welcomed Dr. Karen Ottenstein, an experienced and like-minded family physician from Maine. They have enjoyed ten years working side by side and birthing the region’s first Direct Care practice, with Primacare’s support, in October of 2017. They are both happy to welcome Dr Jessica Manyan, as of 8/1/23.
Dr. Hood lives in Dartmouth,MA with her husband, Tucker, where they raised two sons and a daughter. A supporter of dharmavoyage.org, she enjoys coastal rowing, yoga, sailing, gardening, cycling, running and skiing. A past board member of the Little Compton Wellness Center and longtime sponsor of Plan International, she is an avid student of Tai Chi and the Alexander Technique. She enjoys the benefit of regular muscular therapy/Reiki and Zumba classes after work in the new office studio space.
Jessica C. Manyan, DO
Dr. Manyan comes to Primary Care Partnership after 20 years in practice in Rhode Island. She is board certified in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulation, and completed residency at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, after graduating from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine.
Dr. Manyan grew up in Kennebunkport, Maine and her fascination with natural sciences and the human experience began with living on a farm in the woods and being an avid reader. She completed her BA in English Literature/Creative Writing at NYU, but felt drawn to medicine. As a child struggling with asthma before inhalers, she found it a life changing experience when these medications were introduced. The ability to provide that kind of care to others became her mission. Dr. Manyan finds deep satisfaction in being of service, and makes her patients’ own health goals the starting point for all care experiences.
Dr. Manyan established practice in 2002 in East Greenwich, RI seeing patients of all ages in the office, hospital, nursing home. In 2008 she was appointed program director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Kent Hospital in RI. This role brought her immense joy and the honor of leading a team that provided quality education and instruction to doctors at the beginning of their careers. By the end of 2019, the program had grown, furthered their mission to address underserved population needs by moving the clinic to Thundermist Health Center in West Warwick, and ultimately became the Warwick site of the Brown Family Medicine residency. After an intense time steering the program through the beginning of the pandemic, Dr. Manyan had the opportunity to move back to full time practice, and the great fortune of meeting Drs. Hood and Ottenstein.
Dr. Manyan has used her expertise teaching adult learners to inform her practice and interest in the benefits of meditation, mindfulness and non-traditional approaches to wellness and health. She believes strongly in the core philosophy of osteopathic medicine which is that the best medical care is achieved through addressing the mind, body, and spirit triad. Working with the synergy of this triad can result in profound healing, and she is very excited to be a part of a collaboratively designed practice focused on these values.
Dr. Manyan is a Fellow of the American Board of Family Practice, member of the American Osteopathic Association, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Brown University, and a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship Mentor. She currently holds staff appointment at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River.
Dr. Manyan lives in Rhode Island with her amazing husband, Tucker, and three children Moses, Stella and Gabriel who she has raised with hope, joy and pride as they move through high school and the beginnings of adult life. She finds essential time to practice Chinese martial arts including Kung Fu and Tai Chi, and her newest project is the preservation of the artistic legacies of her mother and great uncle.
Cynthia Corriveau, RN
Cynthia is a graduate of UMass with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has over 40 years of clinical experience including geriatrics and acute care. She has worked closely with Dr. Hood since the practice inception and as of 2010, has been designated a clinical instructor in Family Medicine through Brown University Medical School, teaching medical and nurse practitioner students on site here at PCP. Cindy’s philosophy is a belief in the power of positive affirmations and how our spiritual and emotional needs influence our physical wellbeing. She loves advocating for our patients. She also provides individual motivation counseling for nutrition and weight loss.
Cindy enjoys spending time with her family including 6 grandchildren. Her passion is gardening and you will often see her beautiful flowers throughout our office.
Administrative Staff
Alda Botelho - Novo
Office Manager/Membership Coordinator
Alda joined Primary Care Partnership in 2015 as manager of our office operations. She has over 13 years of experience in the medical field and worked as a phlebotomist and medical secretary for N.B Medical for over 10 years. Her leadership attitude, her philosophy of patient care first, as well as her energetic personality are the qualities that have made her a key member of our staff.
Kathleen L. Lord, CPC (AAPC), MLT (ASCP)
Membership Coordinator
Administrative staff member for over 17 years performing a wide spectrum of medical practice responsibilities including manager of in-house billing and regulatory compliance. A certified professional coder with in depth knowledge of medical insurance, Kathy’s strong organizational skills have benefited the practice through many transitions. Her dedication and belief in the philosophy of the primacy of the doctor patient relationship is an asset to our new practice model.
Kathy is a long time resident of Westport with a love of the outdoors. She enjoys gardening, bicycling, hiking and spending lazy days boating on the Westport river.
Carol Pacheco
Medical Assistant
With experience working with both the young and aged, Carol joined Primary Care Partnership in 2005 as a medical assistant. Her compassion, generosity and engaging humor are the qualities that have helped put a smile on the face of many a patient. Her philosophy is to make sure a person feels heard and let them know we are here for them.
Helen Soares
Patient Care Coordinator/Receptionist
Helen joined Primary Care Partnership in 2005 and performs both administrative and clerical functions. Helen’s focus is advocacy for the patient. Believing patient care is the number one priority despite the challenges with insurance company requirements, she will go above and beyond to make sure patients receive the utmost care that they need.
Helen enjoys traveling and creating memories but most of all loves spending time with her family. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Forget Me Not Organization which benefits the Alzheimer’s Association.