Stories of Impact

A Focus on Foster Care 

Thanks to the Remillard Family Foundation, CF Adams Charitable Trust and DCU for Kids, in 2024 the FaCES clinic received funding to expand primary care, psychiatric services and occupational therapy for children in foster care homes throughout the region. In 2023, we completed over 700 medical visits for kids entering care and expanded our coaching support services to foster parents/caregivers. These caregivers are the most important support for these children, and we provided 230 of them in-home peer support and group classes in over 375 sessions. Lastly, we were able to specifically address the educational needs of 43 foster children. 

Bedside Care for Newborns

Thanks to the generosity of Barbara “Babs” Donahue, five new compact workstations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will allow the medical team to move seamlessly from bedside to bedside. These important additions to the NICU will improve bedside engagement with families by making this process not only more effective but more welcoming. These workstations enable more and easier interactions with each family, creating a better and less intimidating way to discuss the baby’s health status, treatment, and care plan. 
Thank you, Babs, for your incredible generosity for this gift and so many others over the years to help our tiniest patients in the NICU. 

Be a Volunteer!

They are selfless, they are dedicated, and they are--without a doubt--crucial to the success of UMass Memorial Health. Our volunteers mean the world to us, advancing our mission with the mantra of Get Creative. Have Fun. Do Good. Across the organization, you’ll find them out in front and behind the scenes, supporting our programs and participating in the Rodman Ride, Derby for Drew, golf tournaments, and many more. We are grateful for their spirit and kindness.

Tiny Footprints, Huge Impact

Celebrating the tiniest miracles and those who’ve left imprints on our hearts, the annual Tiny Footprints 5K unites families and caregivers from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to support one another, cheer on the graduates, remember infants who left this world too soon, and ensure the continued success of the NICU. This is one of the longest standing community fundraising events along with Links to the Future andDerby for Drew.
 

THE POWER OF MASON’S MOM 

Melissa Shadley gave back in many ways. This grateful mother helped raise funds for UMass Memorial Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with the help of a local restaurant. Her son, Mason, was born with a Diaphragmatic Hernia. At 6 days old, he had surgery and was in the NICU for 39 days before going home. “Thanks to the amazing staff, Mason is now thriving,” said Melissa.

Elevating Critical Care

Thanks to the Fels Family Foundation, Harrington Hospital’s new ultra-modern intensive care unit expansion will increase critical care capacity, improve outcomes, provide the best patient and family experience and better utilize the advanced clinical resources of the UMass Memorial Health system. The expansion will increase capacity, from six private rooms to eight, and double the size of each room. Each new room will accommodate one or two visitors and even allow a loved one to stay overnight.

“There’s been so much research about the value of family, physical touch, and improved outcomes with the full involvement of a patient’s care team. – Jessica Calcidise, RN
VP of Patient Care Service, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Operating Officer 

The updated seven room intermediate step-down unit, adjoining the new ICU, will allow improved continuity of care as patients improve and are moved from the ICU
 

Local Rotary Tees up with UMass Memorial Harrington Hospital

UMass Memorial Health – Harrington and the Southbridge Rotary Club annually hold the Dr. VanVooren’s Annual Golf Tournament in September at the Raceway Golf Club in Thompson, CT. This tournament is a 40-year tradition with an excellent following of golfers and generous community donors.

Proceeds from the tournament support Harrington’s comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program and the Cardiology Department at Harrington Hospital.

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Golf Tournament Success

Thank you to our sponsors, golfers, trustees, volunteers and The Haven Country Club for "chipping in" to make the 28th Annual Golf Classic a great event! We are thankful for your support of Marlborough Hospital, our patients, our caregivers and community.
 

Clock Maker

Dr. Jonathan Stein, a UMass Memorial Medical Group anesthesiologist who works at Marlborough Hospital in the Endoscopy department not only takes great care of our patients but has a hidden talent for time!

Dr. Stein is a very proud “clock repairman” and collector. He has endeavored to painstakingly bring back to life a Simon Willard grandfather clock which was donated to Marlborough Hospital and is located in the Leahy Conference Room. This treasured clock is nearly 250 years old!