Baystate School of Nursing Alumnae Make Gift to Continue Excellence in Nursing
SPRINGFIELD — Recently, four Baystate School of Nursing alumnae — Gail LeClair (class of ’64), Ann Tompkins (’53), Marty Pilon (’57), and Barbara Gurka (’64) — met with Baystate Health’s Joanne Miller, chief Nursing Officer, and Katy Patrick, program director for Nursing Outcomes Improvement and Magnet, to discuss the changes in nursing and to celebrate a gift from the Springfield Hospital Nurses Alumni: $20,000 to support the Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation project.
This gift, one of many during their 13 years of support, is the final one for the group, as they begin to close the chapter on the alumni association.
In 1892, Springfield Hospital, now Baystate Medical Center, launched its first diploma program, training numerous nurses. These nurses resided in the former Porter building during their training. However, in 1999, the nursing school closed as hospital-affiliated diploma programs transitioned to associate and baccalaureate programs. Almost 3,000 nurses graduated from Baystate School of Nursing. The nursing sculpture outside the Chestnut Conference Center, donated by the Baystate School of Nursing Alumni, serves as a poignant tribute to the former school of nursing.
The Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation will create a centralized facility within Baystate Medical Center to support the education and training of current nurses and the next generation of nursing talent who will care for patients. This comprehensive investment will create an invaluable asset for Baystate Health’s nurses, enabling them to stay current on the most effective practices. Additionally, the investment will play a critical role in recruiting and retaining future generations of nursing talent.
“We are really impressed with the work being done at Baystate Health to support nurses today,” LeClair said. “The Nursing leadership team is listening to their nurses and truly hearing them to ensure that they have access to the resources, training, and education they need. We are happy to be able to support these efforts through the Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation.”