Newport Hospital proudly celebrated its new James P. Nolan, MD and Peggy Nolan Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit with a ribbon-cutting event on December 15, 2025. This milestone marks the culmination of planning and fundraising to address the urgent need for youth mental health services in Newport County.
The eight-bed specialized unit, developed in partnership with Bradley Hospital, will provide short-term stabilization, assessment, and treatment for adolescents ages 12 to 18 experiencing serious mental health challenges. The unit will begin treating patients in the first quarter of 2026.
“This unit represents hope for families in our community,” said Tenny Thomas, MD, President and Chief Medical Officer of Newport Hospital. “We know the mental health crisis for this age group is real and urgent. With this dedicated space, we can now offer specialized care close to home, ensuring that young people receive the support they need during their most vulnerable moments.”
Plans to create the unit were announced in the summer of 2023 to address the critical need for pediatric mental and behavioral health services in Rhode Island. Construction began earlier than anticipated thanks to the generosity of donors who contributed more than $5 million to make this project possible.
The James P. Nolan, MD and Peggy Nolan Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit is the first of its kind in Newport County, where there are no local acute care options for struggling youth and their families.
The unit features modern group therapy spaces, activity rooms, and an enclosed outdoor area. It is expected to serve more than 240 adolescents and their families annually.
The Newport Hospital community has a long history of supporting initiatives for its youth, and this critical project would not have moved forward without the generosity of donors. Those to make significant gifts include the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust, The Champlin Foundation, and Bellevue Asset Management and the Schorsch and Weil families, among others. Retired medical professionals, Peggy and James Nolan, MD, whom the unit is named in recognition of, designated $1 million to the construction phase of the project as part of a larger gift to Newport Hospital.
“This is a transformative moment for Newport Hospital, and even more so for the children and families who need the level of specialized care this behavioral health unit will offer,” said Carol Bazarsky, Chair of the Newport Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. “The impact of philanthropy here is extraordinary and the completion of this space is another example of the difference it makes. I am deeply grateful to our incredible donors for their unwavering support and commitment to our community.”