On the Calendar

40 Under Forty Nominations

Through Feb. 14: BusinessWest, HCN’s sister publication, is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2020. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 14, and the region’s healthcare community is encouraged to participate.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be detailed in nature, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online HERE.

Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges. The selected individuals will be profiled in the April 27 issue of BusinessWest and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala on June 25 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The event’s presenting sponsor is PeoplesBank, and other sponsorship opportunities are available.

Caregivers Support Group and Memory Café

Various Dates: Glenmeadow’s caregivers support group for both professionals and family members who are assisting someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia will continue on Jan. 16, Feb. 20, and March 19 from noon to 1 p.m. at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow. The support group, open to the public, is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to learn more about dementia and to understand their individual feelings about the life changes associated with it.

Glenmeadow’s memory café will also continue to meet monthly. Caregivers are invited to bring a loved one to the program to enjoy relaxed conversation with others. Cafés are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. An organized activity — such as yoga, a drumming circle, or creating a gratitude journal — will be offered. Upcoming memory café dates are Jan. 15, Feb. 19, and March 18.

The programs are free and open to those in Greater Springfield. For more information or to RSVP, contact Laura Lavoie at (413) 355-5905 or llavoie@glenmeadow.org.

Loomis Communities Job Fair

Jan. 23: The Loomis Communities will hold a job fair from 1 to 6 p.m. for full-time, part-time, and per-diem positions available at all three communities. The fair will be held at Loomis Village, 246 North Main St., South Hadley.

The fair will feature positions for certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and resident assistants at Loomis Village in South Hadley, Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, and Applewood in Amherst. Same-day interviews and job offers will be part of the fair. Refreshments and gifts will be available to attendees.

Positions offer competitive wages, shift differentials, 403(b) matching, and a culture that values and rewards excellence. For more information, contact Beth Healy at (413) 782-1800, ext. 5827. Those unable to make it to the fair may also call Healy to schedule an interview.

EMT Training at HCC

Jan. 28 to June 2: Registration is now open for the spring 2020 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training program at Holyoke Community College.

HCC’s EMT Basic Course consists of 13 weeks (170-plus hours) of in-class lectures and additional online study, training, field trips, and workshops designed to prepare students for the state certification exam. The training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. and select Saturdays fom 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at HCC’s Center for Health Education & Simulation, 404 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. The course covers all aspects of emergency care, including patient handling, extrication, and communication, and makes extensive use of HCC’s medical-simulation labs.

For more information or to register, contact Michele Cabral at (413) 552-2257 or mcabral@hcc.edu or visit www.hcc.edu/workforce and click on ‘register.’

Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series

Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Baystate Medical Center will hold its popular free Heart & Vascular Health Lecture Series on Sundays during February, beginning on Feb. 2 with interventional cardiologist Dr. Amir Lotfi of the hospital’s Heart & Vascular Program.

All lectures will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Baystate Health Education Center, 361 Whitney Ave., Holyoke.

Dr. Lotfi’s session, “Watchman and CTO: Advances in Care for the Treatments of Atrial Fibrillation and Complete Total Occlusion,” will provide an update on how scientific advances are allowing for alternative treatment for AFib and complete coronary artery occlusion.

The free lectures continue on Feb. 9 with heart-failure specialist Dr. Leeor Jaffe of Baystate’s Heart & Vascular Program, who will present “CardioMEMS and Heart Failure: Latest Technology to Improve Care for Patients with Heart Failure.” Jaffe will discuss heart failure and the implications of a weakened heart, and will provide an update in technology, including a simple device that can detect concerns before symptoms arise.

Vascular surgeon Dr. Yiming Avery Ching of Baystate Vascular Services will present “PAD and Carotid Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Best Therapies for Vascular Disease” on Feb. 16. His presentation will focus on symptoms and when to seek treatment for peripheral arterial disease and disease of the carotid artery. Those attending will learn about the most effective treatment available to improve symptoms and minimize other health risks.

The series will conclude on Feb. 23 with “Heart Disease Hot Topics: Vaping, E-cigarettes, Marijuana, and Alcohol — Harmless or Destructive? What Patients with Heart Disease Need To Know.” The session will be led by preventive cardiologist Dr. Quinn Pack of Baystate’s Heart & Vascular Program.

Light, heart-healthy refreshments will be served at the lectures, and educational handouts on heart and vascular health will be provided. Parking is free. Registration is required for each session by visiting baystatehealth.org/events or calling (413) 794-5200.

Red Cross Lifeguard Training Course

Feb. 18-21: The city of Springfield’s Aquatics Department will offer a Red Cross lifeguard training course during February vacation week at Commerce High School on 415 State St.

Individuals age 15 years and over can register for the course. An in-pool test will be given to all participants prior to the first day on Feb. 13. Based on the results of the swim test, participants who pass will continue on to the full course. The cost for the program is $175 (cash or check only) for city residents and $225 for non-city residents. All fees must be paid by the first day of the class.

Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Interested individuals must pre-register by calling Aquatics Director Joe Federico at (413) 787-6298.

Women’s Leadership Conference

March 27: Bay Path University’s division of Strategic Alliances announced that producer, author, entrepreneur, educator, and, of course, top model Tyra Banks will bring her bold attitude, unique style, and well-honed business acumen to Springfield as the keynote speaker at the 25th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC). This year’s theme, “Own Your Now,” will encourage conference guests to examine the forces that have shaped their careers, relationships, and aspirations; recognize what drives them and what holds them back; and empower them to confidently move forward.

This year’s conference also will feature breakout sessions focused on navigating the complicated relationships, personalities, and dynamics of the workplace and the impact those have on our careers and opportunities. Sessions will be led by bestselling authors and researchers including Laura Huang, Harvard Business School professor and author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage; Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning; Dr. Ramani Durvasula, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility; and Jennifer Romolini, author of Weird in a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits.

For further information on the conference and to register, visit www.baypathconference.com.