Career Pulse – Jan 2016
Panniello to Coordinate Dining at Ruth’s House
LONGMEADOW — Ruth’s House, the assisted-living residence at JGS Lifecare, announced the appointment of Samantha Panniello as dining services coordinator. As an experienced executive and catering chef, she brings a new dimension to the facility’s signature kosher dining and banquet menus.
Panniello brings more than 10 years of experience to Ruth’s House. Formally trained at the Connecticut Culinary Institute, where she was recognized for excellence and graduated at the top of her class, she worked as a chef for both Springfield College and UMass Amherst before becoming kitchen manager of the Federal in Agawam and Vinted in West Hartford, Conn. where she was named head chef. While at Vinted, the restaurant received a rave review by the New York Times, praising its “rich tastes on small plates.” Panniello also landed an executive chef position at Lego in Enfield, Conn., and most recently served as head chef of Marketplace/Back Street Bistro in Springfield.
“We’re proud to welcome Samantha to coordinate our dining services. She brings tremendous talent, enthusiasm, and experience to our culinary team,” said Joelle Tedeschi, executive director of Ruth’s House. “Our residents are in for a treat.”
DiGiorgio Tapped to Lead Consolidated Health Plans
SPRINGFIELD — Drew DiGiorgio was appointed president and CEO of Consolidated Health Plans Inc. (CHP) by the Berkshire Hathaway board of directors, including CHP founder Kevin Saremi.
DiGiorgio has served as CHP’s president since 2013, and was previously director of sales and marketing. He began his career at CHP in 1995, shortly after receiving a bachelor’s degree in business from Framingham State University.
In his new role as CEO, DiGiorgio will provide oversight of the company, reporting to the board of directors. He will continue expanding CHP’s business services to best meet the needs of clients and customers, with a focus on quality service.
CHP is a claim administrator providing affordable health insurance and special risk solutions for thousands of policyholders worldwide. It offers student health and accident plans, employee health and dental plans, FSA and HRA administration, and participant accident insurance and backroom claim administration for carriers. Since 2012, CHP has increased its workforce locally by 26{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}, and continues to forecast stable growth.
BHN Honors Albano For Esteemed Service
SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that attorney Kenneth Albano was recently honored with the Esteemed Service Award from Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN). Albano was presented with the award during BHN’s annual meeting, in recognition of his 20-plus years as a member of BHN’s board of directors and his related board service.
“I am grateful to BHN for this recognition,” Albano said. “The services BHN provides are essential to the wellness of so many in our community who may be struggling with addiction or other life crises. I am honored by this award, and it has been my honor to serve this excellent organization for so many years.”
Behavioral Health Network is a growing non-profit, community behavioral-health service organization, and has served the needs of children, adults, families, and communities in Western Mass. since 1938, offering tools and treatments for those with mental illness, substance-use disorders, or intellectual disabilities.
Albano is a senior partner with Bacon Wilson and a member of the firm’s corporate, commercial, and municipal practice groups. In addition to his work with BHN, he has worked with the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish, and the ALS Assoc., and he serves as board chair of the March of Dimes Western MA Division and on the board of the New England Chapter of the March of Dimes. In June, Albano was honored with the Mass. Bar Assoc. Community Service Award in recognition of his exceptional volunteer work.
Smith Wins Culinary Excellence Award
WESTFIELD — Baystate Noble Hospital Executive Chef Christopher Smith received the Willis Williams Spirit of Service Award for Culinary Excellence from Morrison Healthcare, a leading contract food and nutrition services company for hospitals and health systems across the U.S.
The Willis Williams Spirit of Service Award was established in 2014 in honor of Willis Clay Williams Sr., a 32-year veteran of Morrison, who served as corporate executive chef. The award is presented annually to the Morrison Healthcare Culinary team member who demonstrates the cultural beliefs that Williams exemplified so passionately.
In more than four years with Baystate Noble Hospital, Smith has continued to develop his skills and share those rewards with clients and guests, always eager to learn from colleagues and implement new ideas. He has taken a personal interest in developing the career of his sous chef, Rosa Nieves. Through his mentoring, she completed a two-year culinary certification and continues to build upon her personal development.
In addition to the creative, enthusiastic approach he takes to leading his team at Baystate Noble Hospital, Smith also takes a personal interest in the community by cultivating young chefs through the local schools and supporting local gardens. Through healthy-cooking demonstrations and education, he is teaching the next generation of chefs that wellness is a conscientious choice that can be filled with big rewards and big flavor.
Hoffman Named Among Top 25 Women to Watch
EAST LONGMEADOW — Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman, owner of Hand to Paw Reiki, has been named one of the “Top 25 Women to Watch in Western Massachusetts” for 2015-16 by Western Mass Women magazine, a local lifestyle publication.
Hoffman was recognized for her success and innovation with her business, and also because of her commitment to the community. The publication has been presenting the awards in multiple categories for six years running. Winners are selected based on their involvement with the community, their dedication to their careers, overall achievements, and general professionalism.
Hoffman’s unique services at Hand to Paw Reiki use the ancient form of Japanese healing that combines ‘rei’ (spirit) and ‘ki’ (energy) to help people or their pets. She started her business in 2014, focusing on pets originally. She will visit pet patients in their homes and also visits local senior centers on a monthly basis. She has an office in West Springfield located inside Karma Yoga Studio for her non-pet clients.
In addition to her business, Hoffman is deeply involved with the Women Business Owners Alliance and the East Longmeadow Medical Reserve Corps and Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Dee Emery-Ferrero, CEO and publisher of Western Mass Women, noted that Hoffman is doing something “unique and different and that really made her stand out” as a candidate. “Carleen is very innovative and very creative. She loves animals and has an amazing business. She has worked really hard to get where she is. She is an incredible woman, and I am thrilled to see her receive this award.”
Hand to Paw Reiki works to facilitate the body’s healing response through positive, healing energy. Treatments can work for general aches and pains, arthritis, anxiety, or trouble relaxing or sleeping. Reiki can help alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with cancer treatments, surgery, or other illnesses. Reiki can also help pets with similar symptoms, including fear of thunderstorms.
“Reiki is a great addition to your current medical routine,” Hoffman said. “It is a non-invasive, complementary, and alternative health practice that promotes overall health and well-being.”
Babb Earns Clinical Fellowship Award
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College (SC) physical therapy major Marisa Babb recently received the Ruth Hall Clinical Fellowship Award, the American Physical Therapy Assoc. of Massachusetts’ highest honor for students enrolled in doctor of physical therapy programs.
This award is designed to recognize a student who demonstrates the professional qualities of dedication and care in the areas of interpersonal relationships, professional behavior in clinical and academic settings, and excellence in academic and clinical performance.
Babb has maintained a 3.91 grade point average in SC’s doctor of physical therapy program. She has been a leader among her peers, serving as the head resident assistant and mentoring more than 40 undergraduate students on the campus. In May, Babb received the highest non-academic award given at Springfield College, the Springfield College PRIDE award, for her service to the campus community.
During her clinical work at the Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital at Mercy Medical Center, Babb demonstrated empathy and stability within the chaotic hospital setting.
“She worked with a particularly emotionally taxing case load, including multiple patients and families facing end-of-life scenarios, women with young children who developed significant nervous-system dysfunction, patients with severe challenges adjusting to limb loss, and individuals with psychosomatic dysfunction,” said Babb’s clinical instructor, Dr. Lauren McGrath, who received a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College in 2009 and a doctor of physical therapy degree from Springfield College in 2011. “Babb’s consideration of how emotional stress states affect movement behavior and learning provided her with patience and understanding necessary to optimize a healing environment for her patients.”
In addition to her academic success and service to others, Babb is a talented singer and dancer, has been a member of the college dance and choral groups, and, in her free time, works part-time teaching dance to children at a local dance studio.
The award’s namesake, Ruth Hall, dedicated her career to the profession of physical therapy and was devoted to quality patient care, high standards of ethical practice, and a genuine love of humanity.
Lord Named COO of O’Connell Care at Home
HOLYOKE — Danielle Lord, who began her career at O’Connell Care at Home as a scheduler in 2007 while attending Springfield College to obtain her master’s degree in health care management, recently took on a partnership role within the organization as chief operating officer.
As a large segment of the American population — the Baby Boom generation — is aging, the need for at home healthcare is steadily increasing. This growth in healthcare needs has been evident at O’Connell Care at Home for more than five years. According to the Administration on Aging (AoA), the number of individuals age 65 and over totaled 39.6 million (or 12.9{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of the U.S. population) in 2009. By 2030, the AoA estimates the same segment will total about 72 million, nearly 20{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of the population.
With such rapid growth in O’Connell Care at Home’s core demographic, Lord — who also has a degree in psychology and math from Springfield College — has worked to grow the organization. She was largely responsible for O’Connell Care at Home’s second location in Deerfield, which celebrated a grand opening last year; her efforts culminated in her appointment as chief operating officer.
“I am humbled to be in a position where I may be able to mentor our staff who care so deeply for our clients and take our motto of ‘I am more’ to heart,” Lord said. “I am grateful for this opportunity and take pride in the fact that we are able to positively impact so many lives in the Pioneer Valley.”
Rosinski Honored as Engineer of the Year
WESTFIELD — Baystate Noble Hospital’s David Rosinski, director of Engineering, was recently honored with the Engineer of the Year Award from the New England Healthcare Engineers’ Society (NEHES) in recognition of exceptional service to the healthcare-engineering profession.
During its recent fall conference, NEHES recognized the outstanding work of its members in advancing the profession of engineers in healthcare settings throughout New England.
Rosinski has served on the NEHES board of directors as co-chair of the marketing committee, and is slated to become treasurer of the organization in 2016. He has worked in healthcare for more than 28 years. He recently completed his undergraduate degree at UMass Amherst, earning a bachelor’s degree in business and facilities administration. He is currently pursuing his MBA at American International College.
The New England Healthcare Engineers’ Society, founded in 1958, is a professional society for individuals responsible for the environment of care in the delivery of patient care. The society works to promote better patient care by taking advantage of the latest developments in healthcare facility management, design, operation, and maintenance techniques.
Schweitzer Joins Team at Cooley Dickinson Group
NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Medical Group now offers rheumatologic care, having welcomed Dr. Wayne Schweitzer to 22 Atwood Dr. on Dec. 1.
An experienced rheumatologist, Schweitzer had practiced at Northampton Internal Medicine in Florence since 1997. Kelly Grabowski, LPN, and medical assistant Jillian Teal accompanied Schweitzer in his move from the Nonotuck Street practice to Cooley Dickinson Medical Group.
Schweitzer earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College. Following residency at Boston City Hospital (now Boston Medical Center), he completed a rheumatology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla. He is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He is interested in conditions including arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, gout, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, and vasculitis.
“As a rheumatologist, I think it’s important to do the detective work necessary to discover the causes of swelling and pain,” Schweitzer said. “It’s crucial to determine a correct diagnosis early so that appropriate treatment can begin.”
He also expresses a strong belief in the importance of integrative care. “I refer my patients to orthopedists and physical and occupational therapists, as well as to non-traditional healthcare providers,” he said.
