Meet our Team

Clinical Staff
	Cathleen S. Hood, MD Founding partner and medical director of Primary Care Partnership Dr. Hood is a Board Certified Family Physician with 35 years' experience. A native of Rhode Island, she earned her BA in Comparative Literature in 1979 and MD in 1982, both at Brown University. She has been on the Brown University Medical School faculty since 1986, currently as Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. Dr. Hood completed residency training in Family Medicine at The Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, RI in 1985, and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Massachusetts Medical Society. Licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, she practiced at Westport Family Medicine Center from 1993 to 2000, until opening Primary Care Partnership in Fall River. After 7 years there, she moved the practice back to the renovated Macomber-Kirkaldy House in Westport, former office and home of friend and mentor Dr. Stewart Kirkaldy. Grateful mother of three children, now grown, she worked a limited schedule from 1988-2001 to make time for parenting with her husband Tucker. Early work experience included providing care to underprivileged children at the Tiverton New Visions Health Clinic, gynecological care through the VNA Clinic in Newport, and 8 years' experience working in the Trauma and Urgent Visit Units of Harvard-Pilgrim Health Care, formerly RIGHA. In addition she has provided legal consultation and expert medical review and testimony. Dr. Hood has established a research relationship with Brown University, providing collaboration in the field of mindfulness and meditation practice and its physiological benefits. She has been an associate staff physician at St. Anne's Hospital since 2000 and was a member of the medical staff at Charlton Memorial Hospital from 1993 to 2017. In 2013, she joined Primacare, and soon after that welcomed Dr. Karen Ottenstein, an experienced and like-minded family physician from Maine. Dr. Hood lives in Dartmouth,MA with her husband. A supporter of dharmavoyage.org and the Handel and Haydn Society, she enjoys yoga, sailing, gardening, cycling, running and skiing. A past member of the standing committee of St. Aidan's Chapel in Dartmouth, and longtime sponsor of Plan International, she is an avid student of Tai Chi and the Alexander Technique. She enjoys the benefit of regular muscular therapy/Reiki and several Zumba classes per week. Learning to row is her newest endeavor.
	Karen L. Ottenstein, MD Dr. Ottenstein's creed has always been to go forth with integrity. She trained at the Dartmouth Family Practice Residency following graduation from SUNY Upstate Medical School in Syracuse, N.Y. In 1985, fascinated by the interconnectedness of the mind and body, she graduated with a B.A. in neuroscience from Colgate University, with in-depth studies in biology, psychology, philosophy, and countless hours in the neuroscience lab. Dr. Ottenstein went on to practice full-spectrum family medicine in Wiscasset, Maine for the next 25 years. There she enjoyed caring for multiple generations of the same family, often delivering the children of the babies she had previously helped into the world. A believer in the benefits of continuity of care, she followed her patients from the office to the Intensive Care Unit and back. Dr. Ottenstein joined Dr. Hood at Primary Care Partnership in October of 2013, seemingly by providence. In Dr. Hood she feels she has found a partner who shares similar philosophies around healing. A diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice since 1988, Dr Ottenstein was a Dartmouth Medical School Adjunct Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine. She has also enjoyed teaching at the Dartmouth Family Practice Residency and precepting in her office. Medical staff appointments have included Miles Memorial Hospital, Kennebec Valley Medical Center (now Maine General Medical Center), Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Charlton Memorial Hospital, and currently at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River. Dr. Ottenstein took a sabbatical in 2005 and sailed from Maine to the Bahamas with her husband and youngest daughter (age 11), homeschooling her in both academics and life lessons. She has also combined travel with her interest in alternative methods of healing, traveling to the USSR in 1990 on a Family Practice project sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians, and on a medical tour of China in 1994. Travel for personal growth included a 3 week trek in the Himalayas of Nepal in 1985, and hiking in the rain forests of Costa Rica in 1991. Dr. Ottenstein's interests include environmental protection and Women's Issues. She was on the executive board of Maine Group Sierra Club and the Maine Women's Lobby. An avid reader, she also enjoys the performing arts, both on stage and in the audience. Dr. Ottenstein's joys are foremost her precious children Katherine, Rachel, and Adam, and her wonderful husband, David, captain of their boat, Dancer, the place where her soul is most at peace.
	Cynthia Corriveau, RN Cynthia is a graduate of UMass with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has over 40 years of clinical experience including geriatrics and acute care. She has worked closely with Dr. Hood since the practice inception and as of 2010, has been designated a clinical instructor in Family Medicine through Brown University Medical School, teaching medical and nurse practitioner students on site here at PCP. Cindy’s philosophy is a belief in the power of positive affirmations and how our spiritual and emotional needs influence our physical wellbeing. She loves advocating for our patients. She also provides individual motivation counseling for nutrition and weight loss. Cindy enjoys spending time with her family including 6 grandchildren. Her passion is gardening and you will often see her beautiful flowers throughout our office.
Administrative Staff
	Alda Botelho Office Manager/Membership Coordinator Alda joined Primary Care Partnership in 2015 as manager of our office operations. She has over 13 years of experience in the medical field and worked as a phlebotomist and medical secretary for N.B Medical for over 10 years. Her leadership attitude, her philosophy of patient care first, as well as her energetic personality are the qualities that have made her a key member of our staff.
	Maria DeMello Medical Assistant Maria joined Primary Care Partnership in 2016. She has over 17 years of experience in the medical field including 15 years working at a cardiology office. Her professionalism, compassion and belief in the importance of patient care are the foundations that have made her successful in her field.
	Alyssa Garcia Medical Assistant/Receptionist Alyssa performs a dual role as medical assistant and receptionist. Her attention to detail and belief in advocacy for the patient are beneficial to both patients and the practice. Alyssa is currently pursuing a degree in health care management and emergency medicine (EMT) with plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon. She loves the outdoors, adventuring, and the arts. She owns her own cake baking business and is part of a jewelry company that empowers women out of poverty around the world.
	Kathleen L. Lord, CPC (AAPC), MLT (ASCP) Membership Coordinator Administrative staff member for over 17 years performing a wide spectrum of medical practice responsibilities including manager of in-house billing and regulatory compliance. A certified professional coder with in depth knowledge of medical insurance, Kathy’s strong organizational skills have benefited the practice through many transitions. Her dedication and belief in the philosophy of the primacy of the doctor patient relationship is an asset to our new practice model. Kathy is a long time resident of Westport with a love of the outdoors. She enjoys gardening, bicycling, hiking and spending lazy days boating on the Westport river.
	Carol Pacheco Medical Assistant With experience working with both the young and aged, Carol joined Primary Care Partnership in 2005 as a medical assistant. Her compassion, generosity and engaging humor are the qualities that have helped put a smile on the face of many a patient. Her philosophy is to make sure a person feels heard and let them know we are here for them.
	Helen Soares Patient Care Coordinator/Receptionist Helen joined Primary Care Partnership in 2005 and performs both administrative and clinical functions. Helen’s focus is advocacy for the patient. Believing patient care is the number one priority despite the challenges with insurance company requirements, she will go above and beyond to make sure patients receive the upmost care that they need. Helen enjoys traveling and creating memories but most of all loves spending time with her family. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Forget Me Not Organization which benefits the Alzheimer’s Association.