LYNN — Life Care Center of the North Shore, a local skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, recently welcomed Larissa Lucas, M.D., as its new medical director. 

Lucas is a board-certified internist with more than 20 years of experience in medicine. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and completed her residency in internal medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance. 

Over the last several years, Lucas has held medical director positions in primary care and hospice, and she currently serves on the board of directors for the local New England chapter of the American Medical Directors Association. 

“I love meeting the patients and talking to their families, helping people figure out what their goals are for rehab and after (rehab), and helping people live the best lives they can,” Lucas said about her job as a physician and medical director. 

Lucas called her experience so far at the center “wonderful” and praised the North Shore team for its organization, good communication, focus on quality, and excellent leadership.

“(I’m looking forward to) continuing to provide high-quality care to the most frail in our community,” Lucas said when speaking about the future at the center. “(Patients) have an advocate in our staff, and they have an advocate in me and my medical team. That’s what we value most — to really make sure that all their needs are met.”

Lucas is medical director of the Mass General Brigham Community Physicians division of Extended Care and provides medical care to both long-term care and skilled rehab patients. Life Care Center of the North Shore is part of the MGB Skilled Nursing Facility Collaborative. 

Located at 111 Birch St., Life Care Center of the North Shore is one of 16 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Massachusetts managed by Life Care Centers of America.

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health-care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tenn., Life Care manages nearly 200 skilled nursing, post-acute, and Alzheimer’s centers in 27 states. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.