Career Pulse
Cooley Dickinson Hospital Welcomes Chong to Staff
NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital announced the addition of Dr. Lanceford Chong to the medical staff. He joins the Cancer Care/Radiation Oncology Program as a radiation oncologist.
Chong received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and completed his residency in radiation oncology at that institution. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology, where he is certified in radiation oncology. His areas of special interest and clinical expertise include head and neck cancers, skin cancers, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and sarcoma.
Chong was a member of the senior staff at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was on the faculty for eight years. He was also an associate professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center.
Previously, he was an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and held a similar faculty rank in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. In addition to his work as a physician, he is a state of Connecticut-certified level II firefighter, and was a member of the Greenwich Fire Department.
Chong joins Dr. Linda E. Bornstein of Northampton Radiation Oncology as members of a collaborative multidisciplinary team at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Cancer Care Program.
Kundu Joins New HCPA Springfield Office
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC, announced that Dr. Gargi Kundu has joined the multi-specialty group’s new Springfield office, where she will be establishing her primary care practice in internal medicine.
Kundu will be accepting new patients, ages 18 and older, and will be joining Dr. Atul Maini at the new office, located at 300 Stafford Street, Suite 210 on the Mercy Medical Center Campus.
Kundu obtained her medical degree from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India, and completed her Internship in Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., and her fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.
“Dr. Kundu is committed to patient-centered care and providing high-quality primary care services,” said Robert Suchecki, CEO of Hampden County Physician Associates. “We are pleased to have her join our team and feel her expertise in internal medicine will be an asset to our multi-specialty group and the residents of Springfield.”
Hinchey Recognized for Outstanding Teaching
SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Kevin Hinchey, program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Baystate Medical Center, has been awarded the 2009 Zucker Clinical Teaching Prize for Outstanding Innovation in Clinical Teaching.
Hinchey was presented the award, along with a cash prize of $2,500, at the recent Tufts University School of Medicine general faculty meeting.
The award is one of two Zucker teaching prizes given out annually, including one for outstanding accomplishment. The awards are given each year to promote and honor excellence in clinical teaching and to recognize and reward faculty for outstanding innovation, accomplishment, and the ability to motivate students.
Beginning in 1992 as assistant program director before assuming the director position in 2000, Hinchey was nominated by Dr. David Longworth, chairman of the Department of Medicine at Baystate Medical Center, as well as deputy-chair of Medicine at Tufts University.
“It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers for what you do,” said Hinchey. “But receiving the honor is as much a reflection of me as it is the team I work with and the medical center I work in. It’s really a nice recognition of what we’ve accomplished at Baystate in innovations in medical education.”
Red Cross Announces Leadership Promotions
SPRINGFIELD — The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter has announced the promotion of two staff members to positions of greater leadership within the chapter.
Brenda Brouillette has been promoted from director of Disaster Services to deputy director of Chapter Services. Brouillette began her association with the Red Cross as a volunteer following 9/11, and was hired in 2002 to the position of disaster specialist and then promoted in 2004 to director of Disaster Services. She majored in Human Services at Elon College, and has an extensive background in the hospitality industry. Brouillette will oversee chapter services including disaster services, health and safety services, and service to armed forces. She will also have oversight of chapter human resources and volunteer services.
“Over the past five years Brenda has distinguished herself as an exemplary disaster leader who has developed one of the largest and most dedicated teams of paid and volunteer staff in New England,” said chapter Executive Director Rick Lee.
Mary Nathan has been promoted from disaster specialist to director of Disaster Services, Brouillette’s former position. Nathan also began her service to the Red Cross as a volunteer in 2004. She was hired as disaster specialist in September 2007 and has had oversight of client casework, shelter programs, and outreach. Nathan has worked for more than 25 years in the health and human service arena; prior to joining the Red Cross she worked with the former Gentiva Health Services for many years. Nathan will be responsible for oversight of all disaster services including response, volunteer training, disaster readiness, and capacity building, as well as community disaster education.
In addressing Nathan’s appointment to succeed Brouillette, Lee added, “Mary Nathan is an extraordinarily competent and compassionate person who has served as Brenda’s second-in-command. She has demonstrated her readiness to take on the department’s leadership role and carry on the great work she and Brenda have accomplished together.”
The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter serves greater Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, and has offices in Springfield and Northampton. The mission of the American Red Cross is to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Audiologist Brown Earns Doctoral Degree
GREENFIELD — Gail Brown, an audiologist for Baystate Franklin Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, has earned her doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree from Salus University in Elkins Park, Pa. Brown is also employed by Baystate Rehabilitation Care in Springfield.
Brown graduated from UMass Amherst, with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders; she also received her master’s degree in Audiology from UMass. She holds a certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology and is a licensed audiologist in Massachusetts. She is also a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Jeff King, manager of Baystate Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, noted that, “nationwide, only 25{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of audiologists hold a doctorate. With Gail’s accomplishment, I am proud to announce that 100{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of our audiologists have earned their doctorates, enabling us to offer patients a level of expertise that translates into the highest-quality patient care available.”
WNEC School of Pharmacy Appoints Three Deans
SPRINGFIELD — Western New England College President Anthony Caprio has announced the addition of three administrators to the staff of the College’s School of Pharmacy.
Beth Welch serve as associate dean for Pharmacy Academic Affairs and professor of Pharmacy Practice. Welch earned her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy. She completed a residency specializing in primary care at the Stratton Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center and a fellowship in academic leadership through the American Assoc. of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Welch’s primary area of expertise has been teaching, particularly using student-centered technology mediated methods. She has presented nationally in pharmacy practice and education topics, and has received several awards for her teaching methods. Welch joins WNEC from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
