Southcoast Health Primary Care Provider named Community Clinician of the Year

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Massachusetts Medical Society has announced that Southcoast Health Primary Care Provider and Medical Director of Addiction Services, Holly Alexandre, MD, is the Bristol South District’s Community Clinician of the Year.

The Community Clinician of the Year award was established to recognize a practitioner from each district medical society who has made significant contributions to patients and the community. Dr. Alexandre is board certified in Family Medicine as well as in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventative Medicine.

“It is really a special honor to receive this award because, for me, it means the MMS is acknowledging and recognizing the importance of treating addiction disorders in medicine,” Alexandre said. “I am very grateful to work with a dedicated team every day to help patients with substance use disorders get better.”

Southcoast Health President and CEO Keith Hovan congratulated Alexandre for her achievement.

“Dr. Alexandre is beloved by her patients as a Primary Care Provider and highly respected across the region,” Hovan said. “We are proud that she is a part of Southcoast Physicians Group and delighted that she has earned this recognition from a prestigious organization like the MMS.”

Dr. Jay Lawrence, Southcoast Health Physician-in-Chief for Primary Care, agreed.

“Dr. Alexandre’s recognition by her peers as Massachusetts Medical Society’s Clinician of the Year is a tremendous testament to her dedication and talent in family medicine,” Lawrence said. “Thank you, Dr. Alexandre, for your example, and for shining a light on the exceptional, person-centered care delivered by Southcoast primary care providers.”

Alexandre said the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded already pressing public health challenges.

“It has affected all patients and providers, but it has been especially difficult for patients with substance use disorders, as economic instability and social isolation have had a negative effect on recovery efforts,” she said. “We have an opioid epidemic that has worsened in this past year, and increasing numbers of patients are drinking alcohol at unsafe levels. Our continuing efforts to address these issues are more important than ever.”