Career Pulse

Post Named Administrator of Providence Care Center

LENOX — Robert Post has been appointed administrator of Providence Care Center of Lenox.

“I am pleased to make this announcement,” said Christopher McLaughlin, COO of the Mer-cy Senior Care Network. “Robert demonstrates exceptional enthusiasm and warmth in his interaction with residents and staff, and these qualities will serve him well in his new position.”

Prior to joining the Sisters of Providence Health System, Post served as elderly services coordinator for the Housing Authority of New Britain, Conn. He also served as Medicaid manager for the Waterbury, Conn. school district.

Post holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from Springfield College, and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of New Haven. He completed his long-term care AIT (administrator in training) at Ingrahm Manor in Bristol, Conn. He is a licensed nursing home administrator in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

MHA Names Mangion‘Advocate of the Year’

SOUTHBRIDGE — Richard Mangion, president and CEO of Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge, was awarded the William L. Lane Hospital Advocate Award by the Mass. Hospital Assoc.

The Lane Award is presented annually to a health care executive or leader for professional excellence, outstanding achievements, and exemplary advocacy on behalf of hospitals and health care systems.

MHA President Daniel Moen praised Mangion for diligence “in advocating for excellence in quality and for improving the health care status and safety of all patients.” In his 30 years at the head of Harrington, Mangion has been recognized as a pioneer in implementing quality-assessment systems and team-management concepts.

“Richard Mangion is a dedicated and tireless advocate for improving access to high-quality health care,” said state Sen. Richard T. Moore, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health Care Financing. “We are all grateful for his exemplary leadership not only at Harrington Memorial Hospital, but as a role model for hospital executives and health care leaders throughout the Commonwealth.”

Berkshire Medical Center Taps Counihan for Surgical Program

PITTSFIELD — The former acting chief of Surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester has been appointed to lead the surgical program at Berkshire Medical Center. Timothy Counihan, M.D., a specialist in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery, has been named chairman of the Dep-artment of Surgery and also program director for the general surgery residency program at Berkshire. His appointment follows the retirement of Parvis J. Sadighi, M.D., who served as BMC’s chairman of Surgery for many years.

Board-certified in both general and colon and rectal surgery, Counihan completed his general surgery training at the University of Massachusetts and was fellowship-trained in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Minnesota.

In addition to his leadership role at St. Vincent’s, he had served as program director for the general surgical residency program at UMass Medical Center. He has been in practice for over nine years and has attained the rank of associate professor of Surgery at UMass Medical School. His clinical interests include colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, minimally invasive colorectal surgery, and anorectal disease.

Maplegate Names DiBlasio Director of Marketing

SPRINGFIELD — “Maplegate is not your typical physical therapy,” said Mary-Anne DiBlasio, the new director of marketing at the Springfield rehabilitation facility.

DiBlasio is no stranger to wellness. As the co-founder of Western Mass. Wellness, LLC in West Springfield and manager of a medical staffing agency before that, she said she’s comfortable working in the health care setting.

Not only will DiBlasio help Maplegate market itself in the community, but, as a Reiki master/teacher veteran, she will also conduct Reiki sessions there.

“We have more to offer here than any other facility I have visited, and I visited quite a few to actually see what was out there,” DiBlasio said. “We have a medical director on staff, a chiropractor, hands-on massage therapy, hydro-massage therapy, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Reiki, state-of-the-art rehabilitative equipment, and the best customer service I have ever seen in such a facility — not to mention our new PNT device for those with chronic neck and back issues.”

For more information about Maplegate, visit www.maplegaterehab.com or call (413) 781-8900.

Penka Earns Health Care Management Credential

ATHOL — Steve Penka, president and CEO of Athol Memorial Hospital, recently became a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for health care leaders, including executives of hospitals and other health care organizations.

“Because health care management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” said Dr. Thomas C. Dolan, president and COO of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, health care leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community.”

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 5,400 health care executives hold this distinction. To obtain fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits, and demonstrating professional and community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and must undergo re-certification every three years.

Goodman Attends National Phlebology Conference

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Robert L. Goodman, owner of the Goodman Vein and Laser Center in West Springfield, recently attended the National Conference of the American College of Phlebology in Jacksonville, Fla. Current research and state-of-the-art techniques for the treatment of varicose veins and venous disease were presented and discussed by the leaders in this new field called phlebology.

As a member of the American College of Phlebology, Goodman was the only Western Mass. physician in attendance.

Goodman is a practicing vascular surgeon with 26 years of experience treating vascular disease. He is chief of Vascular Surgery at Mercy Medical Center, active on staff at Holyoke Medical Center and Baystate Medical Center, and the vascular consultant to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.