CAREER PULSE – May 18

Pathlight Taps Caires as Chief Financial Officer
SPRINGFIELD — Pathlight, a provider of services for residential and community services for people with intellectual disabilities, named Andrew Caires its chief financial officer and vice president of Administration, effective April 9.
Caires has significant experience in human services. He was the financial director for Hawthorn Services for 15 years. When Hawthorne merged with the Center for Human Development, he became CHD’s director of Fiscal Services. Most recently, he was the controller for the Williston Northampton School.
“I am happy to join an innovative and energized organization with a distinguished history of having a positive impact on the intellectual-disability community,” he said.
Caires has a bachelor’s degree in business administration/accounting from Western New England University and an MBA from UMass Amherst. He has maintained his certified public accountant (CPA) designation.
Pathlight has been providing programs and services to people with developmental disabilities since 1952. Its programs include residential homes, supports for independent living, family-based living, recreation, enrichment, employment supports, family resources, autism supports, and more.

Mercy Medical Center Welcomes Moral
SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Luis Andres Moral has joined the staff of New England Pathology Associates and Mercy Medical Center.
Board-certified in anatomic pathology and neuropathology, Moral received his medical degree from the University of Guayaquil in Ecuador and completed his residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Kansas in Kansas City. He completed a fellowship in surgical pathology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a fellowship in neuropathology from the University of Kansas.
Moral’s clinical interests include surgical pathology, neuropathology, cytopathology, and autopsy pathology.

BFMC Appoints President, Chief Nursing Officer
GREENFIELD — Baystate Franklin Medical Center announced that two interim leaders have accepted permanent positions at the community hospital.
Ron Bryant has been named president, Baystate Franklin Medical Center/Northern Region, in addition to his continued role as president, Baystate Noble Hospital. Deb Provost has been named chief nursing officer and chief administrative officer, Baystate Franklin Medical Center/Northern Region, in addition to her continued role as chief regulatory officer, Baystate Health. Both have been serving in these roles in an interim capacity.
Since Bryant’s interim appointment in January, he has held many open forums focusing on employee engagement and the need for a strong collaborative culture, advancing system integration and re-emphasizing the health system’s mission from a patient and employee perspective.
“I am thrilled to be part of Baystate Franklin Medical Center and the Franklin County community,” he said. “I have spent my career in community hospitals, and I look forward to advancing the initiative of this organization.”
Provost has been serving in the interim role of vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Baystate Franklin since November. Since her appointment, she has worked collaboratively with Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s leaders and team members to help ensure safe, high-quality care to the residents of Franklin County. Provost has been with Baystate Health for 41 years and has served as vice president, Surgery and Anesthesia and as interim chief nursing officer at Baystate Medical Center.

Rana Joins Team at Endocrinology & Metabolism of BMC
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems announced the appointment of Dr. Zaighum Rana, a board-certified and fellowship-trained endocrinologist, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the physician staff of Endocrinology & Metabolism of BMC. He is accepting new patients in need of endocrinology and metabolism services and is partnered with Drs. Brian Phillips and Krithi Ramesh and nurse practitioners Robyn Korte and Roberta Mansen at Endocrinology & Metabolism of BMC.
Rana received his medical degree from Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie, Grigore T Popa, Romania, and completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Conn. He is fellowship-trained in geriatric medicine from the University of Oklahoma and in endocrinology from the University of Minnesota. He is board-certified in geriatric medicine and endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.
For an appointment with Rana or one of his colleagues, ask your physician for a referral or call Endocrinology & Metabolism of BMC at (413) 496-6838.

HCC Welcomes Maguire as Dean of Social Sciences
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College recently welcomed Moira Maguire as its new dean of Social Sciences.
Maguire most recently served as dean of Liberal Arts at Schenectady County Community College in New York. Before that, she spent 12 years as a professor of history at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, where she was a tenured faculty member and served as a department chair and course coordinator.
She holds a Ph.D. in history from American University, a master’s degree in history from Northeastern University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from George Washington University.
As a teacher and scholar specializing in 20th-century Irish history, Maguire spent more than 10 years at the University of Ireland Maynooth, where her research on infanticide and the Irish government’s care of unwed mothers and their children led to many articles and a book, Cherished Equally? Precarious Childhood in Independent Ireland. She has also worked as a consultant for the BBC on documentaries related to her research.
As dean of Social Science, she will oversee six academic departments: Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Critical Cultural Studies (Economics, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Women’s Studies), Psychology, and Sociology/Anthropology.
“The combination of her scholarly work, teaching, and administrative experience will no doubt be an asset to the Social Sciences division and the college,” said Monica Perez, HCC vice president of Academic Affairs.

Pathlight Awards Scholarship to Staff Member Gleason
SPRINGFIELD — Pathlight, a provider of residential and community services for people with intellectual disabilities and autism, named behavior specialist Erika Gleason as the first recipient of its Donald Fletcher Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship, which will be awarded yearly, is meant to assist an employee in obtaining an undergraduate degree.
A committee of Pathlight board members and staff made the selection after receiving applications from employees. The scholarship is named after Pathlight’s former Executive Director Donald Fletcher, who was committed to helping staff pursue their education. This scholarship is in addition to Pathlight’s current tuition-reimbursement program.
“We are so proud to be able to support our employees in their education,” said Pathlight Executive Director Ruth Banta, who announced the award on April 3 at a company gathering. “We know that the key to a better life for people with disabilities is a well-supported staff, and this scholarship is one way we can show that support.”
Gleason started at Pathlight in 2013 as a direct support professional, supporting people with intellectual disabilities and intensive behavioral needs. Although she had not dealt with people with behavioral issues before, Gleason said it was easy to “see past the negative.”
With her positive attitude and dedication, Gleason quickly moved up the Pathlight career ladder, becoming a behavioral specialist this year. In her new role, she is responsible for checking in with all of Pathlight’s residential homes, as well as conducting safety-training sessions that teach people how to support individuals with special needs. She said the essence of her role as a behavioral specialist is “all about ensuring that the people we serve are living a quality life, and are given the chance to be active members in their communities.”

She is currently working toward an associate’s degree in psychology at Holyoke Community College. Her goal is to transfer to Westfield State University, where she hopes to earn her bachelor’s degree.

UMass Chemist Hardy Wins Prize for Research
AMHERST — Jeanne Hardy, associate professor of Chemistry, whose research focuses on a key protein linked to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, is being recognized with the inaugural Mahoney Life Sciences Prize at UMass Amherst.
A panel of expert judges from the life-sciences sector observed that the “biomedical implications are significant” and “this could turn out to be one of ‘the’ pivotal studies in the effort to combat Alzheimer’s.” Hardy will receive the prize and present her research with life-sciences experts and UMass officials and scientists at a breakfast ceremony on Tuesday, June 19 at the UMass Club in Boston.
Established by UMass Amherst alumni Richard, Robert, and William Mahoney, the $10,000 prize is intended to recognize scientists from the university’s College of Natural Sciences whose work significantly advances connections between research and industry. The prize will be awarded annually to one faculty member who is the principal author of a peer-reviewed paper about original research. Eligible papers can be on any topic in the life sciences that focuses on new research with translatable applications to industry and society.
“Professor Hardy’s research rose to the top of three highly competitive rounds of review,” said Tricia Serio, dean of the College of Natural Sciences. “Her work exemplifies the outstanding translational research for which our faculty are well known.”
Hardy’s research paper, “Multiple Proteolytic Events in Caspase-6 Self-activation Impacts Conformations of Discrete Structural Regions,” was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in September 2017.

Glenmeadow Promotes Four to Vice President Posts
LONGMEADOW — Glenmeadow recently announced it has promoted four longtime staff leaders to newly created vice president positions to improve organizational communication, streamline decision making, and complement its approach to providing care to older adults.
“This recognition of dedicated employees also reflects our mission to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of those we serve and employ,” said President and CEO Anne Thomas. “I am confident this realignment of the leadership structure will strengthen our focus on wellness and optimal health for all.”
Emily Perkins — who formerly served as director of Glenmeadow at Home, which offers a wide range of services to Glenmeadow residents as well as those living in their own homes in Greater Springfield — has been named vice president of health and wellness. In this new role, she will oversee management of the Glenmeadow Assisted Living Program, social services, and life enrichment.
Linda Edwards, director of Marketing, has been named vice president of marketing and strategic initiatives. In addition to marketing and sales oversight, she has responsibility for brand development and public relations. Until a new candidate is found to lead Glenmeadow at Home, Edwards will also serve as interim director. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English and is currently enrolled in a master’s program. Edwards has been part of the management team since 2003.
David Leslie, controller, has been named vice president of finance. In addition to financial management, he oversees information technology, housekeeping, and plant operations. Leslie holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master of business administration in health care. Leslie has been part of Glenmeadow’s management team since 1996.
Anne Miller, assistant administrator, has been named vice president of operations. She oversees human resources, dining services, and the concierge. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and has been part of Glenmeadow’s management team since 2001.
Thomas noted that Glenmeadow’s senior leadership team represents a combined 67 years of service and commitment to Glenmeadow. “Staff longevity throughout our organization is strong, and we remain deeply committed to providing a premier level of service and support to residents, clients, families, and for Lifestyle Pass members, who live in the region and access our services for a fee.”

Omasta Announces Launch of Yellow Ribbon Trucking
HADLEY — Christopher Omasta, vice president of Omasta Landscaping Inc., recently started Yellow Ribbon Trucking Inc. of Hadley.
After an injury, following a deployment to Qatar 2012 in 2013, forced a service-related retirement from the Army National Guard, Omasta worked as second in command to his father, Greg Omasta, in his company, Omasta Landscaping. Seeing a need in the local trucking industry, Chris, with the help of Greenfield Savings Bank, was able to purchase his first truck in 2017. Since then, he acquired another truck, which predominantly works large construction sites and highway paving jobs.
Omasta, a Hadley native and graduate of UMass Amherst, has long been committed to his community and has worked with organizations like Valley CDC developing business strategies and target sales and analytics, and is involved with the Northampton Chamber of Commerce. As a veteran, he has also been involved with the Amherst VFW and has provided his time and services to support local veterans and veteran-related issues in the Valley. He is also a board member for Alpha Tau Gamma, a fraternity in which members are enrolled at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
As a service-disabled veteran, Chris went through a nearly 10-month process to get Yellow Ribbon Trucking certified as an SDVOSB, or service-disabled-veteran-owned small business.