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Newport Mental Health
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Leadership

Dayna Gladstein
Dayna Gladstein, LICSW
President & CEO
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AnthonyNassaney
Anthony Nassaney
Chief Financial Officer (Interim)
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TylerWilkinson
Tyler Wilkinson
Chief Operating Officer
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Susan Piacenti
Susan Piacenti
Vice President of Philanthropy
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DavidBoscia
David Boscia, MSW, LCSW
Chief Clinical Officer
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headshot of Richard Whalen
Dr. Richard Whalen
Medical Director
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A headshot of Francheska Calderon
Francheska Calderon
Human Resource Business Partner
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Chris-Crotteau
Christopher Crotteau
Vice President of Information Technology
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Cynthia Wheeler_2024
Cyndi Wheeler, MBA
Chief Quality Officer
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Our Board of Directors

The Newport County Community Mental Health Center, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors who identify the mission, maintain fiduciary responsibility, and set policy for the organization.

Officers

Nicki Colosi Trilling
Chair
Madeline Turano
Vice Chair
Joseph Arver
Treasurer
Hillary Davidson
Secretary
Dayna Gladstein
Clerk (Newport Mental Health President & CEO)

Members

Barbara Audino
Tyler Bernadyn
Karen Cadwalader
Janice DeFrances
Brian Geer
Mark Horan
Angela Lima
Osasemwinhia Ogboghodo
Kendra Toppa
Barbara Winkler
A. Lavaz Watson

Emeritus Members

Hon. Stephen Erickson
Joyce Kirby, Esq.
Newport Mental Health

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The mission of Newport Mental Health is to improve the lives of children, adults, and families living and working in Newport County by providing the highest quality, recovery-oriented, evidence-based and integrated mental health and substance use care.

Newport Mental Health
42 Valley Road
Middletown RI 02842

Phone: (401) 846-1213
Fax: (401) 848-9151

Office Hours:
Mon. 9am – 5pm
Tues. – Thurs. 9am – 7pm
Fri. 9am – 4:30pm

24/7 Crisis Helpline

If you are having suicidal thoughts, experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, or are witnessing someone in crisis, please call:

988

or

(401) 846-1213 ext. 1

For life-threatening or medical emergencies, please call 911.

safe zone

© 2025 Newport County Community Mental Health Center. All Rights Reserved.

Web design and development by Brave River Solutions.

Dayna Gladstein

President & CEO

Dayna Gladstein, President & CEO of Newport Mental Health, is the quintessential servant leader, unwavering in her commitment to placing the needs of clients at the forefront. She embodies compassion, viewing each individual not merely as a client, but as a person deserving of the highest quality care to enhance their well-being.

As President & CEO, Dayna seamlessly integrates her leadership talents and operational experience to oversee all clinical and business operations. In addition, she is responsible for making critical decisions, analyzing trends, assessing potential risk, and making informed choices which drive Newport Mental Health’s growth and financial sustainability. She is also responsible for building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships which foster business opportunities and enhance the organization’s reputation for delivering equitable, welcoming, and quality services. She is a highly approachable and articulate face of the organization at external events, promoting the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Her extensive experience working with, and bringing together, advocates, providers, municipalities, state, and federal governments is a major contributor to her leadership success.

Prior to her tenure at Newport Mental Health, Dayna spent over two decades championing health equity and community-based behavioral health programs for underserved populations. She excelled at driving strategic growth in markets which focus on patient care, delivering and exceeding financial and quality expectations. Dayna was formerly Vice President of Emergency Services at Pine Street Inn, Boston, Massachusetts, a nonprofit organization with 550 staff members and a $50 million annual budget. She also previously served as Vice President of Child & Family, where she was responsible for development and oversight of operations, budgets, and programs for this multiservice agency. 

Dayna is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Computer Science from Rhode Island College. In 2020, she received the Alumni Service Award from Rhode Island College in recognition of her contributions and impact in her field.  She serves on the Board of Directors for Newport Mental Health, Horizon Pharmacy, Horizon Healthcare Partners, Integrated Health Partners, Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families, Washington Square Services Board, Substance Use Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island, and Freedom House.   

Anthony Nassaney

Chief Financial Officer (Interim)

Anthony Nassaney brings deep financial experience spanning some 30-plus years. He has run his consulting practice (Nassaney & Associates), specializing in contract CFO, since 2018, specializing in advisory and turn-around services. Prior to 2018, he spent seven years with Patina Solutions Group (a national consulting firm), serving as interim CFO for several start-up biotech and technology companies in Cambridge, MA. Along with getting these companies up and running with accounting, HR, IT and legal, he has developed cash forecasting models, accounting policies and procedures, done numerous systems implementations and conversions, built budgeting and forecasting models. He began his career with the Bank of New England (f/k/a Fleet Financial, now Bank of America) and he has held several management roles at companies in biotech, distribution, financial services and retail in the Boston, Providence, and Philadelphia areas.

While working full-time and helping his wife raise their family, he also taught courses in accounting, financial management and ethics at the Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School at Johnson & Wales University in Providence. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Roger Williams University and Master of Science in Accounting from Johnson & Wales University.

Tyler Wilkinson

Chief Operating Officer

Tyler Wilkinson joined Newport Mental Health in 2009 and was named Chief Operating Officer in 2024. With her 15-plus years of experience in the behavioral health service industry, she demonstrates a wealth of expertise and dedication to our organization. Specializing in vocational rehabilitation work, she consistently demonstrates a profound commitment to improving the lives of individuals within the behavioral health community.

Throughout her career, Tyler held various leadership roles at Newport Mental Health, including managing Integrated Health Home and Assertive Community Treatment teams and overseeing Community Support Programs. These experiences honed her skills in organizational management and deepened her understanding of the complexities within the behavioral health landscape.

Most recently, Tyler served as the leader of the Workforce and Strategic Development Department, where she played a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s mission toward becoming a fully Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Rhode Island. Under her guidance, the department successfully facilitated staff training initiatives and skill development programs, ensuring that all team members are equipped to deliver high-quality, evidence-based services.

With a steadfast commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Tyler is poised to drive the organization forward, fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and unparalleled service delivery.

Tyler holds an MA in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Salve Regina University.

Susan Piacenti

Vice President of Philanthropy

Susan Piacenti joined Newport Mental Health in May 2023 as Vice President of Philanthropy. She has worked professionally in nonprofit fundraising for more than 13 years and as a volunteer for civic and non-profit groups most of her life.

Her personal and professional mission is to encourage philanthropy within her community to improve access to health and wellness services for all. Prior to joining the team at Newport Mental Health, Susan was a front-line fundraiser for the Preservation Society of Newport County where she focused on donor cultivation and stewardship, successfully growing the donor base and re-engaging lapsed donors and members.

The majority of Susan’s career has been within the Y-USA movement, having started her fundraising career in 2010 when she was directly involved with boots-on-the-ground management of three capital campaigns ($28MM combined) to build/renovate three YMCAs across southern Massachusetts. Susan was the Director of Development at the Newport County YMCA where she personally raised over $12MM for their capital campaign to renovate and expand the Y’s Middletown facility. Additionally, she raised over $10MM via annual fund grants and donations to support the Y’s programs and services.

Susan is a proud graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine; a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP); and among the 7,700 professional fundraisers worldwide who have earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation.

David Boscia, MSW, LCSW

Chief Clinical Officer

David Boscia serves as the Chief Clinical Officer at Newport Mental Health, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. He joined the agency in 2020 as Clinical Director and was promoted to Chief Clinical Officer in 2023. He orchestrates the oversight of more than 30 clinical programs at Newport Mental Health; his business acumen assures that programs run smoothly, in a cost-effective manner. Central to his approach is the standardization of workflows and procedures across all clinical teams, ensuring the highest quality of care. He is a highly effective leader who sets the standard for fostering trust and rapport with our clients.

Prior to joining Newport Mental Health, he worked at Gateway Healthcare, first as an Emergency Services Clinician and then as Manager of Community Outreach. In this capacity, he acted as a liaison between that agency and the community to promote programs and increase participation, keeping in mind cultural, racial, and ethnic concerns while serving a diverse population. It was here that he also honed his communication and collaboration skills by meeting and working with community groups, child welfare organizations, community health centers, hospitals, advocacy organizations, primary care providers, behavioral health providers, city departments, and state agencies to raise awareness and support of critical programs.

David has made it his mission to assist underserved populations facing lifelong behavioral health issues. After joining Newport Mental Health, he led the No Wrong Door system of care initiative in Newport County. This collaboration brings together 10 partner agencies, including Newport Hospital, to facilitate communication and cooperation that ensures the most fragile and vulnerable people in this community have the care and services they need to remain in their community and achieve the best quality of life possible.

During David’s tenure, Newport Mental Health moved from a medical mode to a client-centered approach to care. Building on this model, he led the establishment of a group program; set up a 24-hour, 7-day per week mobile crisis team; expanded the open access hours to five days a week; and spearheaded the initiative that led to Newport Mental Health’s designation as the first Certified Clinical Behavioral Healthcare Clinic (CCBHC) in the State of Rhode Island.

David is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Barry University and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is also a board member of Freedom Apartments.

Dr. Richard Whalen

Medical Director

As Medical Director, Dr. Richard Whalen plays a key role in providing oversight of the agency’s psychiatric medical services. After receiving his medical degree from Brown University, he completed his Internal Medicine internship at the Miriam Hospital prior to matriculating to Stanford University, where he completed a rigorous residency in Psychiatry. Shortly thereafter, he became one of the first residents to complete a fellowship in 1990 in the field of Geriatric Psychiatry at Stanford.

In his post-residency years, he worked at Kaiser Permanente and Santa Clara County Psychiatric Emergency Services before returning to Stanford Medical Center and the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital as a teaching attending with multiple roles in the emergency room, the geriatric clinic, and in a primary teaching program which he helped design for residents.

Dr. Whalen subsequently returned to Rhode Island where he has worked in virtually every community and hospital system in the state. He was in a private practice affiliated with Landmark Hospital for several years before taking the role as chief of the outpatient psychiatric clinic at the Veterans Hospital in Providence. Thereafter, he worked for nearly a decade at the Kent Center, followed by five years of service at Butler Hospital as an attending on the inpatient and partial hospitalization units, and then matriculated to Gateway/Lifespan for another decade of work focused on community service. Prior to coming to Newport Mental Health, he worked at Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket, providing primary psychiatric care to patients as well as supervision for providers there.

He has particularly championed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the care of the homeless and marginalized populations in the community who are suffering with severe and disabling mental illness. Additionally, he continues to promote the effective integration of care for the dual diagnosis population, inclusive of those who suffer with both primary psychiatric illness and concurrent substance use disorders.

A native Rhode Islander, Dr. Whalen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Brown University, completing his thesis in Irish literature. He continued on to earn his Doctorate of Medicine degree from Brown University. Dr. Whalen has been the recipient of several outstanding service awards from Disabled American Veterans, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and he also received the coveted PRATTLE award in 2001 at Brown University for exceptional training of psychiatric residents.

Francheska Calderon

Human Resource Business Partner

Francheska Calderon joined Newport Mental Health in 2023 as Human Resource Business Partner. She has an extensive background in the field of human resources; her breadth of experience spans management, coaching, data analysis, and talent recruitment. 

At Newport Mental Health, she leads the development of a “people-first” strategy focused on developing goals and initiatives to drive performance and growth. In addition to supporting the “human factor” at Newport Mental Health, including employee relations, she analyzes data and reports on HR metrics to support informed decision-making. 

A graduate of Providence College, she believes in motivational leadership, and strives to establish a steady flow of communication between staff, colleagues, and partners through active listening and facilitating conversations. 

Christopher Crotteau

Vice President of Information Technology

Christopher Crotteau has been a dedicated member of Newport Mental Health since 2012, starting as the Director of IT and rising to the position of VP of IT in 2024. With a wealth of experience in designing, implementing, and managing diverse information systems across various industries such as public safety, hospitality, quasi-state government, banking, and healthcare, Christopher has consistently demonstrated his expertise and leadership. His strategic planning, execution, and evidence-based management have been instrumental in the success of key facility and information technology initiatives.

Christopher’s academic background includes degrees in business management and information technology from Roger Williams University and Southern New Hampshire University. He also holds several technology and information security management certifications. Beyond his professional achievements, Christopher is an active member of several professional associations, including the FBI’s InfraGard National Members Alliance, the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Cyndi Wheeler, MBA

Chief Quality Officer, Newport Mental Health

Cyndi has been with NMH since 2006 and has led the Quality Improvement and Data Analysis Team since 2017, implementing data-driven processes to meet the reporting, evaluation and quality requirements of a CCBHC. She also leads the implementation of a population health data warehouse with Rhode Island partners. This project seeks to provide comprehensive data analysis across partners, enabling data-driven decision making and improved outcomes for individuals seeking mental health services.
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