Leadership Team
Susan MacKenzie, PhD | 401-457-3042
Medical Center Director
Susan A. MacKenzie, Ph.D., was appointed Director of the Providence Veteran Affairs Medical Center in October 2013.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. MacKenzie has served as the Deputy Medical Center Director of the Boston Healthcare System and the Deputy Network Director of the VA New England Healthcare System. During 2012 - 2013, she served as the Acting Director of VA Maine Healthcare System and the Manchester VA Medical Center. Dr. MacKenzie is a graduate of the 1999 Leadership VA Program. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of Women in Healthcare Management.
Dr. MacKenzie holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Science, a Master’s of Public Administration and a Doctorate in Health Policy, all from Northeastern University. During her 30-year VA career, she has also held a number of administrative appointments in VA Boston Healthcare System, including Staff Assistant to the Medical Center Director, Assistant Chief of Medical Administration Service, and Quality Management Coordinator for Accreditation.
Erin Clare Sears, MBA, MSW | 401-457-3041
Associate Director for Operations
Ms. Clare Sears was appointed Associate Director for Operations of Providence VAMC in April 2013.
Previously Ms. Clare Sears served as the Chief of the Social Work Service and Geriatrics and Extended Care from 2009. She began her career with the VA in Providence in May 1996, as a graduate social work intern in both primary care and mental health. After graduation, she worked at two community hospitals, and then returned to Providence VAMC in April 2001.
Ms. Clare Sears holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master’s of Social Work (clinical concentration) at Boston College, and a Master’s of Business Administration (management concentration) from Salve Regina University. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College, teaching in the graduate social work program.
Satish Sharma, MD | 401-457-3040
Chief of Staff
Satish Sharma, M.D., VISN 1 Network Director for Medicine Service Line, was appointed Chief of Staff of Providence VAMC in March, 2015.
Dr. Sharma has served the Veterans of New England for over 30 years. He was appointed as the Chief of Cardiology at Providence VAMC in 1983 and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including Director of the Residency Program, Associate Chief of Medicine, Chief of Medicine, and VISN 1 Specialty and Acute Care Director. Dr. Sharma has received numerous honors and awards including the “VHA Healthcare Employee of the Year” award from the VFW in 2002 and Professional Employee of the Year, 2002, from the Rhode Island Federal Executive Council.
In addition to his administrative activities, Dr. Sharma has been actively involved in patient care, teaching, and clinical research throughout his career. Dr. Sharma holds a faculty appointment at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University at the rank of Professor of Medicine.
Bonnie Charland | 401-273-7100x3087
Director, Quality Management
Dr. Charland was appointed as the Director of Quality Management for the Providence VA Medical Center in November, 2013.
Dr. Charland began her VA career as the Magnet/Evidence Based Practice Coordinator in August, 2007 and then was appointed the Associate Chief of Nursing Service in September, 2008. She has served as the VA Nursing Academy Director and as Acting Associate Director of Patient Care/Nurse Executive. Prior to her appointment at the Providence VA Medical Center, Dr. Charland held numerous leadership, academic and consultation positions in the private sector in Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Dr. Charland earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts and Master’s of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Connecticut. She completed her doctorate in Nursing at the University of Rhode Island in 2015. Dr. Charland has been active with the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, Nurses of Veterans Administration, and the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is the President for Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Upsilon Chapter. Dr. Charland is an Adjunct faculty member at both the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.
Jennifer M. Ector | 401-273-7100x3612
Acting Associate Director for Patient Care & Nurse Executive
Retired Col. Jennifer M. Ector has been acting Associate Director for Patient Care and Nurse Executive since June 2016. Prior to this, she was assigned as the deputy Associate Director for Patient Care at the Providence VA Medical Center.
In the course of her 27-year military career, Dr. Ector's numerous assignments have taken her all over the world. Key assignments include: Staff and Assistant Head Nurse, Burn ICU, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Flight Team Administrator, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research; Head Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas; Chief, Education Support Branch, William Beaumont Army Medical Center; Chief, Clinical Nursing Service, 67th Combat Support Hospital, MEDDAC, Wurzburg, Germany; Assistant Chief Nurse, Bassett Army Community Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Deputy Commander for Nursing, Task Force 47, Fort Lewis, Wash., Mosul and Tikrit, Iraq; and Deputy Commander for Nursing, Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Fort Polk, La.
Dr. Ector's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Army Aviation Badge. She is also a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit, Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Society, and is a certified VHA mentor at the Fellow status.
Dr. Ector earned a Master's in Nursing from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from the American Sentinel University, Aurora, Colo. Her professional training includes the AMEDD Basic Officers and Advanced Courses, the Intensive Care Nursing Course, AMEDD Clinical Head Course, Combat Casualty Care Course, Flight Nurse Course, Command and General Staff College, Advanced Nurse Leadership Course, Total Army Instructor Training Course, and the AMEDD Executive Skills Course.
