Career Pulse

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems has announced the appointment of Dr. Rodrigo Santamarina, a fellowship-trained specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and hand surgery, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center.
Santamarina, a former chief resident in General Surgery at BMC, returns to the Berkshires as part of a collaboration between Berkshire Health Systems and UMass Memorial Healthcare, where Santamarina serves on the full-time faculty in the Division of Plastic Surgery.

Santamarina received his medical degree from Francisco Marroquin University in Guatemala City and also completed a research fellowship in plastic surgery at Esthetique Internationale, a center for cosmetic plastic surgery enhancement, in collaboration with Dr. Oscar Ramirez from Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Santamarina completed his residency training in General Surgery at Berkshire Medical Center in 2004. He also completed a fellowship in Hand Surgery and full training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UMass Medical School.

In addition to specializing in hand surgery and providing general reconstructive surgery services, Santamarina has clinical interest in endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, endoscopic facial plastic surgery, breast reconstruction/ reduction/augmentation, body contour surgery, cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty, and facial implants.

Miller Joins Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute

SPRINGFIELD — David Miller, a biotechnology professional and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of company-building and management experience with life-sciences businesses, has joined the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) as its first director of business development.

Miller will be responsible for creating and implementing broad-based business and economic-development programs for the institute.

A key focus will be on programs related to the Center of Excellence in Apoptosis Research, one of the efforts expected to be integral to the institute’s growth and to regional efforts to develop a life-sciences industry cluster in the Pioneer Valley.

Miller was vice president of research at EcoScience, one of the first biotechnology companies originating from UMass Amherst.

During his career as a research scientist and business-development executive, Miller has served on government advisory groups for the National Research Council and the Office of Technology Assessment.

He holds six patents for platform technologies that have created unique product opportunities.

His business experience includes domestic and international collaborations, contract negotiations, intellectual property management, product development, and establishment of commercial partnerships. He holds a doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Harvard University.

“I look forward to being a part of the institute’s efforts to create new commercial and translational research opportunities for itself and its partners,” Miller said. “Having worked far from home in the biotechnology sector for a number of years, it is especially gratifying to join the effort to grow the PVLSI as the hub for biomedical research and economic development in Western Mass.”

Loomis Names Sulborski Marketing Manager

AMHERST — The Loomis Communities has announced the appointment of Christine Sulborski to the position of marketing manager at the Applewood at Amherst retirement community.

Sulborski was most recently the community relations director of Sterling Glen of Rye Brook in New York. She previously worked for Sunrise Senior Living in Stamford, Conn. Sulborski earned her business degree at Bay Path College in Longmeadow.

The Loomis Communities, with campuses in Holyoke, South Hadley, and Amherst, is a fully-accredited continuing care retirement community providing health care options to older adults in the Pioneer Valley.

Baystate Ob/Gyn Group Welcomes Bell to Team

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Ob/Gyn Group has announced that Julie Bell has joined its staff as a certified nurse midwife, providing experienced gynecologic and obstetric care.

Bell received ger master’s degree in Public Health and her certificate in Nurse Midwifery from Boston University. She has more than 24 years of experience in women’s health care, including 18 years as a labor and delivery nurse and six years as a certified nurse midwife.

“I believe in caring for the whole woman in the context of her life and family with the understanding that we all work hard to juggle many competing demands on our time and attention,” Bell said.

Dr. Howard Trietsch, managing physician of the group, added that Bell’s addition “will further strengthen our program and the high quality of women’s health care services that we offer.”

Bell sees patients in the practice’s Springfield midwifery office and the West Springfield office.

Doanes Joins Staff at Holyoke Medical Center

HOLYOKE — Thoracic surgeon Dr. Masharn Doanes has joined the staff of Holyoke Medical Center.

Doanes, a board-certified general surgeon specializing in cardiothoracic surgery, previously worked in thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He has offices at 10 Hospital Dr., in the new HMC Medical Specialties practice.

Ahead of his peers, Doanes was accepted into Emory University as a junior high school student, was accepted into Morehouse School of Medicine as a junior undergraduate. While studying at Morehouse, he earned honors in General Surgery, Family and Community Medicine, and Pediatrics.

In 2000, Doanes was honored as the Gold Star Resident of the Year, and in 2003-04 his fellow General Surgery interns chose him for an Outstanding Service Award.

Doanes performed his surgical residency at Erie County Medical Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, where he was named chief resident in 2001-02; and his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Doanes perfected his technique in general thoracic and esophageal surgery including VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery), airway and esophageal stents, bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy (lymph node sampling in the chest), general lung resections, surgery for mesothelioma (asbestosis-related tumor), and laparoscopic foregut surgery, all of which he will now perform at HMC, among other procedures.

McCarthy Recognized for Energy Therapy Instruction

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Michelle McCarthy, Reiki master teacher and integrated energy therapy (IET) master instructor, was honored as one of the top 27 IET master instructors of 2007 by the Center of Being in Woodstock, N.Y.

In 2005, the Center of Being began honoring master instructors who contributed the most to the growth of integrated energy therapy each year. Based on the class lists it receives, the center honors those who taught the largest number of basic, intermediate, and advanced IET students over the course of the year. McCarthy was previously recognized by the center as one of the top 25 instructors of 2005.

McCarthy owns and operates the Heart to Heart Healing Connection in West Springfield, offering Reiki and IET at the facility, as well as traveling to locations around New England and Florida to teach the practices.

Levin Nationally Certified in Nutrition Support

GREENFIELD — Lois Levin, a registered dietitian at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, was awarded certification as a nutrition support dietitian by the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification.

Certification in nutrition support is awarded to registered dietitians who have passed a comprehensive written examination proving they have the knowledge base necessary to deliver parenteral and enteral nutrition support (intravenous and tube feeding). This carefully balanced, highly specific nutrition support is required for patients who are unable to feed themselves or be fed by mouth. Recertification is required every five years since the field is so rapidly evolving.

“I’m very proud and excited to have completed this process,” said Levin. “With certification, I provide additional expertise to the entire critical care team, and to patients who need this complex nutritional support.”