Career Pulse

Schapiro Joins Team at Baystate Neurosurgery

SPRINGFIELD — Neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Schapiro, who specializes in the treatment of tumors, spine, and pediatric neurosurgery, has joined Baystate Neurosurgery, located in the Medical Office Building at 2 Medical Center Dr. on the campus of Baystate Medical Center.

Schapiro earned his medical degree at Queens Univer-sity in Kingston, Canada and completed his residency in neurosurgery at McGill Univer-sity in Montreal. He later completed a neurosurgical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The physicians at Baystate Neurosur-gery are part of Baystate Health’s team of physicians, many of whom are nationally recognized for their expertise in patient care, clinical research, and medical education.

Schapiro is currently accepting new patients, and most insurance plans are accepted. He is also available for physician calls for consultations and second opinions.

Phillips Tapped for BHS Endocrinology Staff

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems announced the appointment of Dr. Brian Phillips, an endocrinologist and specialist in diabetes and metabolic disorders, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center.

Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Phillips joins Dr. Anna Kozupa in providing endocrinology services at the BHS Endocrinology Suite, 510 North St., Pittsfield. Phillips and Kozupa work in collaboration with the American Diabetes Assoc.-certified Diabetes Education program at Berkshire Health Systems in serving diabetes patients in the community.

Dr. Phillips is board-certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and completed a clinical fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, in Providence. He received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Brown University. Phillips’ clinical interests include diabetes and thyroid disorders.

Jewish Geriatric Services Announces Appointments

LONGMEADOW — Diana Thamage-Kibodya has been appointed resident service coordinator at Genesis House – Housing for Independent Seniors. Thamage-Kibodya has held a variety of positions at JGS for 15 years at Spectrum Home Health and Hospice Care and Ruth’s House. She holds a Master’s Degree in Com-munity Economic Development from the University of Southern New Hampshire and another from Springfield College in Organizational Management and Leadership.

Also, Moira Chi-usano will serve as a social worker at the Wernick Adult Day Health Care Center. Chiusano is a graduate of Westfield State College. Following graduation she joined the Peace Corps and worked in Botswana, Africa with organizations addressing HIV/AIDS. Chiusano also worked in London for several years as a child and family social worker. She is pursuing a master’s degree at Springfield College.

In other JGS news, Laurie Lipscomb Alves, RN, assistant director of Nurs-ing, was awarded Wound Care Certi-fication granted by the National Al-liance of Wound Care. Alves has worked at Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home for 10 years.

Also, staff members Donna Campbell and Gina Francis-Wilson were honored as 2008 Massachu-setts Long Term Care Foundation Scholarship recipients at a luncheon ceremony held in the Great Hall at the State House. The Foundation is the research and education arm of the Mass. Extended Care Federation. Both women are pursuing their as-sociate’s degrees in Nursing at the College Network Inc. Campbell has been employed at the Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home for 11 years, and Francis-Wilson for 12 years.

Finally, Donna Huff, LPN, MDS coordinator, was awarded Minimum Data Set (MDS) certification granted by the National Assoc. of Sub-acute/Post Acute Care.

MDS is a uniform set of elements for assessing the functional capacity of residents of long-term care, which is required for communication with designated state agencies as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid programs. Huff has worked at Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home for one year.

Jewish Geriatric Services is a leading health care system serving elders and their families.

Programs of JGS include the Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home, Wernick Adult Day Health Care Center, Spectrum Home Health and Hospice Care, Ruth’s House – an Assisted Living Residence, JGS Family Medical Care and House Calls, and Genesis House.

Emerson Joins Staff of Noble Hospital

WESTFIELD — Dr. Nathan Emerson has joined the medical staff of Noble Hospital as a general surgeon.

Emerson’s duties include many facets of general surgery, from standard procedures involving appendix or gall-bladder removals to emergency-room coverage and more complex surgeries.

Much of his experience and focus involves the latest in minimally invasive, laparoscopic surgical equipment and techniques, which provide for more rapid recovery for patients. Dr. Emerson has already utilized these skills on behalf of Noble patients in numerous surgeries and consultations.

Emerson’s experience derives from his training at Baylor University Medical Center, where he completed more than 1,200 successful surgeries and received the Trauma Award in 2005. Emerson’s educational achievements include his doctorate from the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he participated in the Surgery and Research Honors programs, and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, where he graduated cum laude.

Emerson’s outpatient office is located within the physician office suite for Westfield Medical Corp., located adjacent to the main Noble Hospital entrance on West Silver Street in Westfield.

Baystate Medical Practices Welcomes Bhatt to Team

SPRINGFIELD — Primary care physician Dr. Ritika Bhatt has joined Baystate Medical Practices – Northern Edge Adult Medicine at 3455 Main St. in Springfield.

Bhatt earned her medical degree at Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi, India, and competed her residency in internal medicine at Unity Health System in Roch-ester, N.Y.

The physicians at Baystate Medical Practices – North-ern Edge Adult Medicine are part of Baystate Health’s team of physicians, many of whom are nationally recognized for their expertise in patient care, clinical research, and medical education. As a member of the medical staff at Baystate Medical Center, Bhatt works closely with specialists at the hospital whose talents are also available to the patients she serves.

Dr. Bhatt is currently accepting new patients, and most insurance plans are accepted.

NERHCC Names Buzzee Executive Director

HOLYOKE — Richard Buzzee of Holyoke Medical Center has been appointed executive director of the New England Regional Health Care Cooperative (NERHCC).

The announcement was made by Holyoke Medical Center Vice President of Operations Mike Zwirko, president of the NERHCC.

Buzzee has more than 35 years of experience in health care, including clinical, sales, and materials management. Most recently, he served as director of Materials Management for the Sisters of Providence Health System, and previously held the position of director of Materials Management at Noble Hospital.

He has been a member of NERHCC for many years, serving actively on the Materials Management committee and the board of trustees.

As executive director of NERHCC, Buzzee is responsible for managing a portfolio of contracts representing Holyoke Medical Center, Noble Hospital, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont, and Cambridge Health Alliance in Boston. In addition, the executive director continues to seek new accounts to join NERHCC and to negotiate additional contracts to add to the organization’s portfolio.