Career Pulse

Shirtcliff Steps Down, Sullivan Takes Reins at Baystate Mary Lane

WARE — Longtime Baystate Mary Lane Hospital President Christine Shirtcliff stepped down from the post on March 1. She will pursue a career involving mentoring staff and future leaders at Baystate Health as a senior consultant in professional and organizational development.

Taking her place is Joan Sullivan, who becomes president of both Baystate Mary Lane and Baystate Health Eastern Region. Sullivan has been vice president of clinical informatics and re-engineering for Baystate since 2002.

“Joan Sullivan is a loyal, seasoned leader who has been a vice president at Baystate Health for 14 years and has accomplished much in her career thus far, with a strong emphasis on building relationships,” said Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health.

Sullivan joined Baystate in 1995 as vice president for ambulatory practices. Before that, she was vice president for Ambulatory Services at the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester. She began her career in health care as a nurse at UMass Memorial Hospital.

“I look forward to working with our employees, physicians, patients, and friends as we plan for our second century of care for the region and ensure that we are a strong and viable health care resource for the community in the future,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan’s role also includes overseeing all medical clinics and doctors offices affiliated with Baystate in Ware, Belchertown, Palmer, Monson, Hardwick, Warren, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, and Brookfield.

LeClair Honored with National Nursing Award

WORCESTER — Flo LeClair, hospice coordinator at UMass Memorial Hospice, earned the 2010 Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse of the Year Award from the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses.

LeClair, the only nurse in the country to receive this award, was presented with an honorary plaque at the group’s ninth annual Certification Recognition Event in Boston.

The award recognizes the work of an end-of-life-care nurse. Honorees have personified excellence in end-of-life nursing and have made contributions in clinical practice, education, leadership, or research. LeClair was recognized for her excellence in hospice and palliative nursing practices and cited for her clinical skill and her team-leadership abilities.

A nursing professional with more than 28 years of experience, LeClair has a background in development and management of UMass Memorial Hospice. She evaluates and admits patients into hospice as well as educates and supervises pediatric nurses in the care of terminally ill infants and children.

“We are honored that Flo received this very prestigious award,” said Dr. Stephen Tosi, chief medical officer of UMass Memorial Medical Center. “Flo exemplifies the qualities of caring, compassion, and dedication. and we are happy to see her acknowledged for her exceptional efforts.”

LeClair has spoken at nursing-education conferences on guidelines for managing non-pain physical symptoms at end of life as well as other topics pertaining to palliative and end-of-life care and treatment. She is a member of the Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Mass., the Oncology Nursing Society and Hospice Special Interest Group, the Hospice Nurses’ Assoc., and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Swierzewski, Zaret Open Urology Clinic at Noble

WESTFIELD — To better serve the Noble Hospital community, urologist Dr. Stanley Swierzewski III and his physician assistant, Owen Zaret, have expanded their services by opening a Westfield-based clinic at the hospital.

Urology services are available at the Westfield Medical Corp. physician offices adjacent to the front entrance of the hospital at 115 West Silver St. Swierzewski has been performing many urological cases in the Noble operating room, and brings to the hospital his expertise in minimally invasive prostate treatments, bladder neuromodulation, and female incontinence treatment.

Patients can also be seen at the 75 Springfield Road location, as well as their office in Holyoke. For more information, contact Swierzewski’s office at (413) 533-3192.