Merrimack Health is pleased to announce that Lane A. Glenn, PhD, was unanimously elected chair of the health system’s Board of Trustees.
Dr. Glenn, president of Northern Essex Community College (NECC) and a Merrimack Valley resident, is a proven leader in higher education and community development with a successful track record of positive impact in the region. As president of NECC, Dr. Glenn has led the significant expansion of the college’s Lawrence campus and is also the founding Board Chair of the Lawrence Partnership, a private-public collaboration of business leaders, community leaders, and elected officials devoted to economic development and improving the quality of life for residents of the city.
Since joining the Merrimack Health Board in 2021, Dr. Glenn has served as Chair of the Quality and Care Committee and as a member of the Strategic Initiatives Committee. He was unanimously voted Chair at the Board of Trustees’ recent annual meeting, succeeding Rosemarie Day, who concluded her tenure as Board Chair on December 31, 2025. She will serve as a volunteer advisor to the Board throughout 2026.
“Lane is a thoughtful and respected leader who has been instrumental in the unification of our new health system. I look forward to further working with him and the rest of the Board as we set a new standard for integrated, community-focused care in the region,” said Diana Richardson, president and CEO of Merrimack Health. “As we welcome Lane into the role of Board Chair, we also extend our gratitude to Rosemarie Day for her exceptional leadership during such a transformative period in the history of our organization.”
“I’m honored to continue serving Merrimack Health as Board Chair,” said Dr. Glenn
. “I have long appreciated and valued the contributions of Lawrence, Haverhill, and Methuen Hospitals in serving the needs of our communities and delivering exceptional health care. It is a privilege to work alongside our health system leadership in supporting our mission of serving the Merrimack Valley. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Rosemarie Day for her insightful and thoughtful leadership during such an important time for our communities.”
In addition to Dr. Glenn's appointment, Merrimack Health's Board of Trustees welcomed four new members. The appointees bring diverse expertise in healthcare, education, community development, and business leadership to guide Merrimack Health as the region’s first unified health system.
About the New Board Members:
Maria Bonanno is founder and principal of Bonanno Law & Title, P.C., a law firm and title company located in Methuen. She is a full-service real estate attorney, and her practice of law primarily focuses on conveyancing, in addition to real estate and the formation and counseling of trusts, corporations, and LLCs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Maria has a background and interest in resource development, government relations, and strategic initiatives. A lifelong resident of Methuen, she was a member of the former Holy Family Hospital’s advisory board from 2011-2024, including serving one year as its chair, with oversight responsibility for quality and regulatory requirements. Maria has a unique background to assist Merrimack Health in this phase of integration and service to the region.
Carlos F. Cappas, PsyD, MBA, is a healthcare executive and practicing clinician currently serving as Chief Behavioral Health Officer at Lynn Community Health Center. In this role, he leads a multidisciplinary team of more than 70 behavioral health professionals and oversees the strategic expansion and integration of behavioral health services across primary care, school-based health centers, and community programs. Dr. Cappas drives clinical and operational alignment to advance access, quality, and health equity for diverse populations. He is the past Co-Chair of the Behavioral Health Working Group for the City of Lawrence’s Health Task Force and currently serves as President of Casa Esperanza, Inc. and as a Board Member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Dr. Cappas previously served as faculty for the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program and as a primary care behavioral health clinician at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center. He is also an active member of the Health Equity Compact, a statewide coalition advancing health equity in Massachusetts.
Margaret M. Hogan is Chief Executive Officer of Boston Senior Home Care, one of Massachusetts' largest Aging Services Access Points, serving over 12,000 older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers annually. With over three decades of experience in healthcare and nonprofit leadership, she has held senior positions including Vice President at the Home Health Foundation and Chief Operating Officer at the National Patient Safety Foundation. She has also served on the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission Advisory Council.
David S. Samuels, DMD, is a specialist in periodontics, implant dentistry, and oral medicine who previously served as president of the Massachusetts Dental Society and was appointed by the governor to the Board of Registration in Dentistry for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, serving as its chair. He currently serves as speaker of the house for the Massachusetts Dental Society and continues to be recognized as a leader for the enhancement of oral health. He holds membership in a number of national societies, has received numerous awards from organized dentistry, including the John Golden Award in 2023, one of the highest honors bestowed among New England dentists, and has served as an associate clinical professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and has lectured in the department of Oral Pathology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.