December 23, 2016
by umassnewsviews
Each holiday season, our Medical Center employees contribute generously to community agencies and local families in need. Our employees’ selfless acts of giving align with our systemwide True North principles (Our Patients, Our People, Our Future and Our Discoveries). This is why it is so important that News & Views brings you the information about our journey to becoming the best place to give care and the best place to get care. Today’s and the December 21 issues show how much our departments and teams care about our patients, our greater community and each other. Learn about this year’s acts of holiday benevolence:
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The Office of Clinical Integration coordinated a raffle among colleagues that raised $300 for BAMSI (Brockton Area Multi-Services Inc.). The donation was given to the Worcester BAMSI office, 350 Plantation Street, which provides daytime services to adults who have a combination of physical and mental disabilities and/or illnesses. In addition, members of the clinical integration team coordinated a Toys for Tots donation box, a giving tree for the DCF Holiday Party, and Project Toasty to collect warm winter clothing, which was donated to St. John’s Church.
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The Oncology Pharmacy with Investigational Pharmacy, fifth and sixth floor infusion suites staff at the Ambulatory Care Center and staff at University Campus second floor radiology, along with miscellaneous participants, provided $500 dollars worth of gift cards to the Worcester Boys and Girls Club annual Christmas party.
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Members of the Marketing and Communications Department
The Marketing and Communications Department, in conjunction with Abby’s House, helped a family in need by buying holiday gifts for four children. The team purchased a variety of wish list gifts and necessities for the children, ages 4 to 10 years old, including clothing, shoes, toys and art supplies.
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Tri-River Family Health Center has supported the Telegram & Gazette Santa for over 30 years from the center’s candy draw collection. With all the extra money collected, the center will be sending a $642 check this year to help support children in the area. The center has also supported the local Department of Children and Family services for the past 26 years by buying Christmas gifts and food gift cards. This year, the center collected for eight families with a total of 15 children.
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Cindy Ramsey, office coordinator, geriatric medicine, is pictured with Julia Martiros of Elder Services.
The Geriatric Division organized a sock collection for Elder Services of Worcester. Pictured is Cindy Ramsey, office coordinator, geriatric medicine, with Julia Martiros of Elder Services.
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Hahnemann DSU, SACU and PACU donated to the Worcester County Food Bank. The group donated food for Thanksgiving and also presented the food bank with both financial and food donations on December 19.
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Staff from Occupational Injury Care and Employee Health donated gift cards, arts and crafts supplies, and personal items to Community Healthlink’s Highland Grace House, a residential program serving young women seeking long-term recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.
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Montachussett Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Montachussett Internal Medicine and Nephrology in Leominster coordinated a food collection for patients. Patients entered a drawing to receive one of three food themed gift baskets and two anonymously donated grocery boxes.
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The University Campus Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy departments gifted turkeys and gift cards to Friendly House that provided 10 families with Thanksgiving dinner this year.
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306 Belmont Street team
The 306 Belmont Street team donated $500 toward the DCF Holiday Party.
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The Infection Control Department made a donation to the Worcester Food Bank.
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Harvard Primary Care donated to Worcester County Toys for Tots Program.
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The Medical Group Professional Fee Reporting Department adopted a teen through the Children’s Smile Coalition, purchasing gifts on the Christmas Wish List.
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Houskeeping team members, from left: John McGlone, Charlene Annohene and Mike Puim
Every year members of the Housekeeping Department for University and Memorial campuses adopt two families through Friendly House Shelter. This year, the Ambulatory Care Center housekeeping team also joined in and adopted a family, too.
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Emergency Medicine Administration offices collected donations totaling more than $3,700 from faculty, fellows, advanced practice providers and administrative staff to benefit the Worcester County Food Bank.
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Women’s and Newborn Services Community Engagement Committee members
The Women’s and Newborn Services Community Engagement Committee participated in the annual Community Mitten Party at the Belmont School, Worcester. The committee collected and distributed 550 pairs of mittens along with homemade cupcakes and grapes. Following the December 7 party, the committee received handmade thank you notes from kindergarten and first-grade students. Pictured, from left, are Sharon Cormier, RNC, Ellen Delpapa, MD, chairwoman, Tina Profitt, Patti Yranski, NP, Cathy Violette, NP, Michelle Cote, community volunteer, and Kelley McNamara, Belmont Street School. Missing from photo are Michael Kalinowski, volunteer baker, and Marianne Williams, mitten collection organizer.
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Millbury Internal Medicine team
Millbury Internal Medicine employees adopted a family for the holidays. Gifts for the children and caregiver were purchased and wrapped, and will be delivered on Christmas Eve.
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For the third year in a row, the Finance Services Division donated, purchased and wrapped presents to help those in need. This year, seven children from the Belmont Street Community School will receive toys and new clothes. A lit tree was also donated to a family who has never had one.
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The Department of Psychiatry’s Ambulatory Psychiatry Service donated $670 and 24 winter outfits of jackets, gloves and coats (and a small beanie baby in a pocket) for Worcester schoolchildren through the Worcester Educational Development Foundation’s Coats for Kids program.
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Last but not least, one of our caregivers received a very special recognition this holiday season …

Lourdes Plaza
Lourdes Plaza, housekeeper, 7th floor, Univeristy Campus, received high praise from a patient who wrote this message to her in a Christmas card: “You were my guardian angel while I was in the hospital. Every time I have a challenge, I am always reminded of you telling me God will take care of it. Blessings to you and your family!”