Executive Leadership

RICHARD R. CHAREST
President, Landmark Medical Center
President & CEO, Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island

Richard R. Charest became president of Landmark Medical Center in January 2007. He also serves as president and chief executive officer of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island, a position he has held since 2000. Mr. Charest is a graduate of Northeastern University with a B.S. in pharmacy and Bryant University with an M.B.A. in healthcare administration.

Known as a strategic, results-oriented executive and for being a visionary leader with a passion for quality, patient safety and service excellence, he has a demonstrated record of organizational leadership and success, including the development and implementation of financial and operational turnaround strategies, the development of tertiary-level programs, and negotiation of programmatic partnerships with external organizations.

A native of northern Rhode Island, he currently serves as a governing board member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Heart Association and an advisory board member at St. Antoine Residence. He has held board appointments at the Rhode Island Blood Center, Rhode Island Drug Utilization Review Board, Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy, and the Visiting Nurse Service of Greater Woonsocket.

LISA E. ZAPATKA, M.S.N, R.N., C.N.S,
Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President of Patient Care Services, 
Landmark Medical Center & Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island

Lisa Zapatka joined Landmark Medical Center in 2004 as chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services for both Landmark and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island. A nurse executive with significant experience in clinical operations, fiscal management, leadership development, medical staff relations, and team-building at all organizational levels, she oversees seven inpatient units, including adult psychiatric and women’s health, emergency, perioperative services, cardiac catheterization lab, rehabilitation services, respiratory therapy, cardiac outpatient diagnostic and sleep lab, rehabilitation nursing units, pulmonary rehabilitation, quality and risk management, infection control/employee health, case management/social services, and clinical education. She has been instrumental in leading Landmark to consistently outstanding performances in core measures of quality. She holds a M.S. in nursing from the University of Rhode Island and a B.S. in nursing from Rhode Island College.

ROBERT CRAUSMAN, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Landmark Medical Center

Dr. Robert Crausman was appointed chief medical officer in March 2010. He holds a bachelor of science, doctorate of medicine, and a master’s degree in medical science from Brown University. A pulmonologist and geriatrician, he is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care and geriatrics. He most recently served as director at the Center for Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases at the Rhode Island Department of Health and chief administrative officer of the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. He also led the Health Department’s H1N1 pandemic response, serving as incident commander. Dr. Crausman is an associate professor of medicine at the Brown University School of Medicine. He is published in several medical journals and has received awards for teaching excellence.

THOMAS F. KLESSENS
Chief Financial Officer, Landmark Medical Center

Thomas F. Klessens joined Landmark Medical Center in May 2009. He is a healthcare financial executive with an outstanding record, primarily in turnaround situations. He has considerable leadership experience, having served as a healthcare consultant with Coopers and Lybrand, in addition to more than 20 years' experience as both a CFO and interim CFO at several hospitals in the New England area. Klessens is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor of science in accounting and finance from Boston College.

MARYANNE J. HARMSEN
Vice President, Marketing & Business Development,
Landmark Medical Center

Maryanne J. Harmsen, who was appointed vice president of marketing and business development in 2009, is an industry-acclaimed executive with an outstanding record of professional excellence and a proven ability to generate results using mechanisms that focus on reduced costs, improved efficiencies and internal service delivery. She has developed sales and marketing divisions, both in local and national corporations that achieved the highest market share within their industries. Her extensive management background includes developing and training a sales force, building an award-winning marketing communications department, and creating innovative products that led to bottom-line success in the marketplace. Her business acumen is acknowledged nationally, and she is considered a business leader both in health insurance as well as the healthcare industry. She is a motivational speaker, and has participated in national panel discussions involving business success and the importance of leadership within the new framework of business models.

MAUREEN A. BISCHOFF
Director of Administration, Landmark Medical Center &
Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island

Maureen A. Bischoff joined Landmark Medical Center in 1996, steadily earning promotion to her current position as director of administration at both Landmark Medical Center and Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island. She has an extensive background in financial management and analysis, operations management, and budgeting. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from Bentley College and a bachelor’s of science degree in finance from Framingham State College.