Baystate Health

Last week, we were honored to join Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts in unveiling the newest program at Baystate Children’s Hospital—the Ronald McDonald Family Room! This special space now provides families of children receiving care a comforting space to rest, reflect, and recharge. The Ronald McDonald Family Room is designed as a welcoming sanctuary for parents just steps away from their child’s bedside. It offers a quiet place to find comfort and amenities, allowing families to stay close to their child and actively engage in their healthcare journey. The room provides seating, a kitchen area with beverages and snacks, access to the internet and device charging stations. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in bringing this program to life, especially our partners at RMHC CTMA, H|AI Architecture, Raymond R. Houle Construction and Kerry Blumberg. Your dedication has made this room a reality, and it will offer invaluable support to families during their most challenging moments.

2024 Rays of Hope Walk & Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer We are just 22 days away from the Walk & Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer! Register today, start fundraising and get your pink ready for the Walk & Run on October 27th. 👟Run Toward the Cure will start at 8:30am 💗SURVIVOR PHOTO at 9:45am 👟Walk steps off at 10:30am We will have a morning full of fun activities so be sure to get there early! Register through the link in our bio and be sure to mark yourself as going on our Facebook Event to stay up to date on the newest information! #ROH2024 #peacelovecure Register Now! https://lnkd.in/erm-g8_q 💗

"My name is Megan Elterman and I am a Nurse Practitioner that works at the Baystate Breast and Wellness Center in the Surgical Oncology Department. I was a Registered Nurse in Oncology for 15 years prior to my current position. I worked in the inpatient hospital setting in Boston and Hartford before I came to Baystate and decided to continue my education as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have been at the Breast and Wellness center as an NP for 5 years now. My inspiration for becoming a nurse started off very basic- I wanted to help people. My mother and grandmother were nurses, so it seemed like the natural career path at the time. However, my reasons have changed over the years. I love what I do because I love connecting with people. I love educating my patients and being by their sides helping them through some of their most vulnerable moments in life. This is one of my greatest purposes in life. Working at the Breast Center has become one of my most rewarding positions in my career thus far. Breast health is a very anxiety provoking topic for many women and to be able to be there for my patients both clinically and emotionally during a difficult time to help guide them through is a gift. I love having a patient-provider collaborative approach to care and really listen to a person regarding their goals of care. I see an array of women and men of all ages for various breast concerns. I help to diagnose breast cancer or rule out breast cancer as well as treat/follow many benign breast problems. The most common breast problems include: breast lumps, nipple discharge, breast skin changes, breast infections, and abnormal breast imaging. I provide work up with imaging, order image guided biopsy and provide in office biopsy when indicated. I see post operative patients after undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy or complications that may occur associated with surgery. I also support the survivorship program and follow women and men who have a history of early-stage breast cancer. I am grateful for the work that we all do here at the Breast Center and within our community. Our biggest annual event is the Rays of Hope walk every October for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Also given it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month make sure to get your screening mammogram annually starting at age 40! (Some high-risk women may qualify earlier) Also if you notice any new breast concerns bring it to the attention of your provider!" #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #MyBaystateStory

Together, we rise in strength, courage, and hope this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join Baystate Health for our Breast and Wellness Series! Empower yourself with knowledge and take charge of your breast health. 💗 Sign Up Here: https://bit.ly/4eOc2GH

Congratulations to Dr. Raquel Belforti, Associate Professor of Medicine, and Dr. Elizabeth Eagleson, Assistant Professor of Medicine, who were the recipients of the two 2024 The Baystate Women in Medicine & Science (BWIMS) Impact Awards. BWIMS recently held their annual Impact Award Ceremony at the Delaney House in Holyoke. The awards honor faculty and medical staff members who identify as women and have demonstrated excellence in institutional service, healthcare delivery, education, and/or research. Susan Hingle, MD, FRCP, MACP, Associate Dean for Human and Organizational Potential, and Director of Faculty Development at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and president of the American Medical Women's Association, presented “Building an Inclusive Environment of Caring and Engagement So We Can Grow, Thrive, and Succeed,” to a full room of clinicians, administrators, and senior leadership. BWIMS serves physicians, faculty, advanced clinical providers, and scientists who identify as women at Baystate Health. We are an institutional resource that promotes policies, practices, and programs that support women’s organizational advancement.

Faculty Spotlight on Elizabeth Peacock-Chambers, MD, MSc Dr. Peacock-Chambers was recently awarded a $3.3 million, five-year R01 grant from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for a Type II Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of “Mothering from the Inside Out.” The trial aims to test the implementation of an intervention for mothers with substance use disorders under real-world conditions. Read more: bit.ly/46LH13m

We're pleased to share that George Deratany has joined Baystate Health today, September 30 in the role of Sr. Director of Laboratory Services. George will be leading the Laboratory enterprise across our organization. He is a seasoned laboratory professional, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience in the profession to our health system. With a diverse background in all laboratory areas, including testing, operations, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and billing financial management, we are looking forward to all that George will bring to this role. Please join us in welcoming George to our team!

"I started working at Mary Lane Hospital in 1994 as a dietary aide. I also worked in central supplies. After I got married, I left work briefly and had two daughters. In 2007, returned to Mary Lane and took a position in Environmental Services working on the patient care floor, and later transferred to the operating room to do this important work of keeping a clean and safe environment for our patients and our team members! I attribute my career in healthcare to my mother, who worked as a nurse aide from 1960 to 1971 at Mary Lane. That is where she met my father, who was a patient there. If it weren’t for that chance meeting, I wouldn't be here today! Today I work at Baystate Wing Hospital in the operating room with the surgical services team. I enjoy everyone I work with; they are such a great bunch of people. There isn't one best part of my day, I enjoy everything I do! From the moment I walk in the door, I know that I am helping my colleagues and the many people that visit our hospital by doing what I have been doing for the last 17 years – ensuring a clean and safe environment for us all!" -Lorraine Danitis, Custodian Specialty, Surgical Services, Baystate Wing Hospital #MyBaystateStory

“My name is Amanda Graveline, and I am the Radiology manager at Baystate Noble Hospital. I began my career nearly ten years ago as a sonographer at Baystate Medical Center. After about five years in the field, I pursued my bachelor’s degree, which led to a promotion to Ultrasound supervisor. Six months ago, after completing my degree, I transitioned to Baystate Noble as the Radiology manager. I was born and raised in Westfield, a place I’ve always considered home. I love the close-knit community feel of Baystate Noble, where our Radiology team, though small, is strong and dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care. My passion for healthcare began early when I worked at a nursing home in Westfield. My interest in radiology was ignited during an ultrasound appointment for my aunt. My aunt, while pregnant, over the course of nine months, had numerous ultrasounds due to her baby (my soon-to-be cousin) having a heart defect. The heart defect was detected thanks to the sonographer’s findings. Because of those findings, my aunt was able to deliver at Boston Children’s Hospital, where my baby cousin underwent heart surgery on her third day of life. That experience was a turning point for me, solidifying my desire to pursue a career in Radiology and make a difference in patient care. While I manage the Radiology department, some of my most rewarding moments come from being on the floor, scanning and interacting with patients. As a healthcare professional, I take the impact I can have on my patients very seriously. During a hospital visit, people may feel anxious, lonely, or stressed about their situation. I strive to be the person who offers a listening ear, words of encouragement, or simply a comforting presence. Simple acts of kindness, like walking someone to their car, can go a long way in making a positive impact on someone’s experience.” #MyBaystateStory

Mustafa Barbhuiya, medical director of Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing, Department of Pathology, Baystate Medical Center and assistant professor of Pathology, Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, was recently named one of the Top 100 most influential people in pathology over the past year, specifically as one of the Top 20 Heroes of Pathology by The Pathologist. Featured in “The Pathologist Power List” 2024, Mustafa has demonstrated innovation, leadership, and achievement in pathology. Mustafa’s research interests are focused on liver and biliary tract cancer mechanisms and biomarkers. He also conducts research on the role of the essential diagnostics list in healthcare delivery and population health, and is broadly trained in clinical biochemistry, clinical laboratory management, medical laboratory sciences, cancer epidemiology, cancer biomarkers, next generation sequencing, and mass spectrometry. Congratulations Mustafa! Read More: https://bit.ly/3MZiRJt