Everyone Is A Caregiver - - UMass Memorial Health

WHO IS A CAREGIVER
We Respect
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Featured Caregivers

We Respect

Learn how our caregivers are demonstrating a culture of respect through their everyday work.

Featured Caregivers

Meet some of our caregivers, nominated by their colleagues, for inspiring them through the work they do every day.

“I’m impressed with all the individuals who work on our Anchor Mission and I enjoy working alongside them as they implement their initiatives."

Associate General Counsel

“I remain calm, listen to what they have to say and do my best to solve their problem. You have to be compassionate."

Ambulatory Services Representative, Dermatology

“Everybody has a part in this hospital,” he said. “Everybody is a little machine. It takes a team.”

HVAC Technician

“It’s not uncommon for participants to say, ‘This course changed my life.’"

Program Manager and Senior Instructional Technologist

“It’s a privilege to train our future nurses,” Pam said.

Pamela Sheeran, RN

Nursing Professional Practice Specialist

“Never hesitate to raise your ideas, acknowledge your teammates, and aet them know they're doing a good job," Jennifer said.

Jennifer Cabrera

Director of Special Projects

“What’s important is how you present information – in a polite, respectful way."

Elizaveta “Liz” Stecyk, RN

Manager of Surgical Services

“I like to take time to sit with the patient and talk with them and their family,” Grace explained.

Grażyna Rzeszotko, RN

Assistant Nurse Director

“We want to give our employees of Asian heritage a safe place to voice their concerns and be heard."

Pediatric Gastroenterology

“I see my work at the hospital like a ministry (not in a religious way), to help patients through problems. I want to make them comfortable and feel valued.”

Madeline Quinones

Certified Nursing Assistant

"It's important for our staff to understand the people we serve, including bilingual staff who can translate services to our clients.

Michelle Rodriguez

Human Resource Generalist

“Every time I go to work, I say to myself, ‘I'm going to do the best possible job that I can do,’” Lucy said. “And that's my model and that's what I go by. This is my dream job.”

Lucyna “Lucy” Chzaszcz

Patient Care Associate

“When the kids walk by on their way to school, they can grab an apple sauce, a yogurt stick, a juice box or a banana. That might be all they have for hours. Nothing warms my heart more than making sure a child is not hungry in school, with their stomach grumbling.”

Director of the CDM Hospital Billing Revenue

“I really love my job. Every day there’s a new challenge. It’s amazing.”

Interpreter Services, Supervisor

"It's a great hospital with a nice community feel," she said. "Everyone knows each other, and we all work great together."

Stacey Anderson, RN

Case Management/Utilization Review Coordinator

“I try to give them comfort and a confident attitude when answering their questions or easing their concerns."

Nurse Practitioner

"I take the time to explain things to patients. We have a real conversation. I want them to feel that their issue has been 100-percent resolved."

Supervisor, Patient Financial Services

The most satisfying part of her job, Gina says, is seeing patients who've come to UMass Memorial for serious medical issues get better. "We are part of patients' healing process," Gina said.

Gina Mischitelli

"It's exciting to be part of helping nurses on the front lines receive their critical care certification. It's important for patients and for ourselves."

Theresa Oliveri, RN, MSN

Clinical Coordinator/Nurse Education Specialist in 7ICU

"For this and the many other incidences of kindness, compassion, and just getting the job done right the first time, Dmitry deserves to be recognized as a true caregiver!"

Dmitry Shcherbakov

Patient and Equipment Transporter

“When a patient tells me I made his/her time with us a good experience, that’s where my job satisfaction comes in,” she said. "Many will come back to us or refer us to their friends and family, word of mouth."

Tapethia "Tab" Bergman

Rehabilitation Aide

"It's very gratifying to help guide patients through the cardiovascular challenges they face and to help them make interventions that will prevent further problems down the road."

David Lyons, MD

"We all work as a team to care for our patients. UMass Memorial is a great place to work. This is like a second home for me."

Consolee Numukobwa

Patient Care Associate

“The challenges are not always the big things,” Lisa said. “The difficult piece is eliminating the small things that create waste and inefficiency.”

Lisa Gillum, MSN, RN

Associate Chief Nursing Officer

Don Smith is a great role model who always goes above and beyond. He is an effective leader who is kind and fair [and] can be counted on to help anyone, anytime, throughout the organization.

Investigator, Compliance Department

"We help them make tough decisions. We help them navigate grief. We're also there to help them celebrate. Our job is to give people hope."

Rev. Cheryl Leshay, M.Div.

Chaplain, Pastoral Care

"Some patients have had life-altering injuries, and we follow them for months, even years," he said. "We develop relationships with them and get on a first-name basis. They become like family to us."

Anthony Calamare

Orthopedics Technician

"We have to respect our clients and serve them where they are, not where we think they should be. Everyone has different needs, but the goal is recovery."

Josephine (Josie) Roman

Program Coordinator, Supported Living Environment

"Every day is different," Yamilka said. "And every day we make a difference in patient outcomes by getting the right provider there on time."

Yamilka Velazquez

Dispatcher – Interpreter Services

"Skills they learn in counseling, they learn for the rest of their lives," Kate said. "It's not about fixing people. It's about helping students be the best version of themselves."

Kate Wall, MSW, LICSW

"The most gratifying thing for me is when it’s clear that a patient understands what the provider has told them, and they can feel at ease with their plan and their treatment," he said.

Medical Interpreter

"You realize when you're taking care of somebody that you’ve taken care of their brother, their sister, or their mother. To me, that’s very rewarding. You feel like you’re making a difference in the community."

Kim Robinson, MD

Medical Director, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

"Ahmet is consistently upbeat and energized about his work," said John Jepsen, Resident Regional Manager of Housekeeping Services. "He manages to be productive but engaging in all he does."

University Campus Project Worker, Housekeeping Services

"I get to know individuals and their families," she said. "I live in the community where I work, and I see my patients out and about in the world, in our different roles. I think that helps a lot."

Stacy Potts, MD, Med

Family Medicine Physician, Residency Program Director, Barre Family Health Center

"We're a busy department, and I personally help care for 25 to 40 patients a day. Sometimes they're nervous. I talk to them and try to help them relax and get comfortable."

Registered Medical Assistant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, UMass Memorial Medical Group at Milford

"In retail, you send patients on their way, and there's no follow-up. They don't come back in and say ‘Hey, I got better!' In the hospital, we can follow patients' progression to see that somebody's infection is going away."

Lead Pharmacist

"Patients can experience anxiety, confusion, even fear when admitted to the hospital. But as soon as they meet Prince Philip, MD — they know everything will be OK."

Prince Philip, MD

Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine

"Scott takes great pride in preparing a range of food options that will make everyone's day a little better."

Food Service Supervisor

"These patients are on a journey and I'm on it with them, from admission to discharge," she said. "If I know I've made a difference to help that child and family feel comfortable and cared for — then I've done my job."

Pediatric Nurse

"Her instincts are to care for the immediate needs of the patient first and always make sure all the issues are addressed before she leaves. She is pleasant to approach, quick to respond and compassionate in her actions."

"The image of a hospital pharmacist working in a basement pharmacy is changing," she said. "We now interact more with patients, reassuring them and educating them about their medications."

Clinical Pharmacist

“There is definitely a feeling of satisfaction when you complete a project or fix an issue that ultimately helps our patients and clients.”

Assistant Director, Information Technology

"Parents just want to feel heard," he said. "When I go home at night, I want them to know: ‘I am thinking about your child. I will take care of your child with the same vigor that I would care for my own family members.' "

Cornelius Tyrrell, MD

"Patient relations is number-one," Ricky said. "You meet a lot of patients who are having ups and downs. We're super friendly to everyone and treat everyone with respect."

Supervisor, Valet Parking

“I sit down with every patient, face-to-face, with no desk between us. Those few minutes I spend listening and reassuring my patients can mean all the world to them.”

Paula Bellin, MD

Surgeon, Urology

"You can teach anyone a skill. But caring and compassion — you either have it or you don't. Our pediatric nurses have it. My job is to motivate, educate, mentor ... and to listen."

Gina Gardner, MSN, RN

Pediatric Nurse Manager

“My success at work is all due to my team. My fellow surgeons, the nurses, office and OR staff, and residents – everyone comes together and this allows me to be personally successful,” he said.

Justin Maykel, MD

Colorectal Surgeon

“Our decisions are based on what’s best for the patient, so working together as a team to follow them through the health care experience makes a big difference in their outcome."

Elifce Cosar, MD

Cardiovascular Anesthesiologist

“My purpose is to keep people safe. If I know that everyone is safe then I know I’m doing my job.”

UMass Memorial Medical Center Police Officer

You can find Patty in the clinic, at the nurse’s station, triage room or the exam room, working to make someone’s day just a little bit easier. Her positive attitude makes patients feel less vulnerable.

“Dave uses his creativity to solve problems and design innovative solutions that directly impact the satisfaction our patients have with their care and our employees have with their work environment."

Director of Facilities

"As far as advice to his fellow caregivers goes, Ernie sticks to the basics: “Just try to listen to people—empathize with them. Listen to what they have to say.”

"The most meaningful part of my job is to help patients live their lives."

"Isaac is a very humble man. He takes his role very seriously and understands the importance of customer service to our patients; he is truly a valued employee.”

“David just does a stellar job in responding to the many questions that arise around the databases and how they work. He is the consummate professional."

Safety Intelligence Data Specialist

"Having grown up in Leominster, I feel very connected to this community. I have some kind of connection to almost every patient I take care of."

Kimberly Ebb, MD

"I think the Standards of Respect are important because they help us to be better caregivers. For me, meeting those standards happens in many ways, but it always starts with kindness and compassion."

CT Scan Technologist

"I was proud to be a part of our organization and impressed by the leadership of Dr. Dickson and his focus on supporting our teams that provide essential services to our community, especially during this difficult time."

Director of Food Service and Nutrition

"I love working here. We’re like a big family. We work as a team."

Heather Mercadante

"After practicing pediatric GI for over 20 years, I very quickly had to learn a whole new set of skills, including how to feel comfortable providing care without necessarily having those face-to-face interactions."

Jenifer Lightdale, MD, MPH

"I've started to listen more to patients' needs other than just their eyes, because I know that they're being affected by their lack of social interaction and [limited] ability to leave their homes and see family."

Firas Kassira, OD

"COVID-19 has divided us physically, but it has also brought us closer as a team because we communicate with each other more effectively and frequently."

"I’ve known some of my patients for 25 or 30 years. I’ve cared for generations of families. My patients are like family. It’s a great relationship."

William Corbett, MD

"Jamie’s leadership skills are exceptional. She treats everyone with compassion and dignity, creating a culture of safety in the workplace."

"We all felt that Tamara has the skills, leadership ability and other attributes necessary to drive the organization forward."

President, UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink