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Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Members of Working Group Created to Ensure Health Care in Communities Impacted by Closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center

Working group will develop recommendations for expanded or new services to meet the health care needs of those who live and work in Nashoba Valley
For immediate release:
10/08/2024
  • Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Media Contact   for Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Members of Working Group Created to Ensure Health Care in Communities Impacted by Closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center

Olivia James, Deputy Communications Director

BOSTON — Today the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the membership of the Nashoba Valley working group, which was created to address the health care needs of the region following Steward Health Care’s closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center. The group held its first meeting this month.

The working group is co-chaired by Joanne Marqusee, Assistant Secretary in the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and Robert Pontbriand, Town Manager of Ayer. 

“In the wake of Steward’s closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center, this committed and diverse group of leaders has come together to understand the needs, address opportunities, and explore ideas to protect the health and well-being of those who live and work in this region,” said Joanne Marqusee. “As co-chairs, Robert and I are also committed to hearing and taking into account the voices of the residents in these towns.  While we understand that the loss of this hospital has been difficult for these towns, we see an opportunity for the Working Group to develop proposals that have potential to make a real and positive impact.”  

“The inaugural meeting of the Nashoba Valley Working Group was a productive first step in addressing the various impacts and challenges to health care in the Nashoba Valley which the closure of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center has created.  The Working Group brings together a group of professional leaders from all three levels of government; healthcare professionals; emergency medical responders; and key community service stakeholders to develop a viable roadmap of recommendations to improve health care in the Nashoba Valley region,” said Robert Pontbriand

The list of Nashoba Valley Working Group members include: 

Hospital Leaders

  • Tricia Pistone, Senior Director of External Affairs, UMass Memorial Health Health-Alliance Clinton Hospital
  • Christine Schuster, RN, MBA, President & CEO, Emerson Health
  • Colin McHugh, President & CEO, Southern New Hampshire Health
  • John Jurczyk, FACHE, Covenant Senior Vice President, President of St. Joseph Hospital
  • Amy Hoey, RN, President, Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital

Other Health Care Providers

  • Stephany Godfrey, DO, Chief of Family Medicine at Nashoba Valley Medical Center
  • Amjad Husain, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Nashoba Valley Medical Center
  • Paul P. Harasimowicz III, MD, Chief of Surgery, Nashoba Valley Medical Center
  • Francis M. Sauvageau, Chief Executive Officer, Taravista & Miravista Behavioral Health Centers
  • John A. DeMalia, President & CEO, Community Health Connections, Inc.
  • Patti Onorato, Deputy Executive Vice Chancellor for Operations, ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School
  • William Reidt, Regional Vice President, Life Care Centers of America

Pre-Hospital Care (EMS/Fire Chiefs)

  • Timothy Johnston, Fire Chief, Town of Ayer
  • Art Cheeks, Fire Chief, Town of Groton
  • Robert Sideleau, Fire Chief, City of Leominster 
  • Brian Borneman, Chief of Department, Pepperell Fire
  • Steele McCurdy, Fire Chief, Town of Littleton

Community Leaders

  • Mark Haddad, Town Manager, Town of Groton
  • Jason M. Main, Director of Veterans Services, Town of Leicester
  • Chelsey Patriss, Executive Director, Health Equity Partnership of North Central Massachusetts
  • Tamara Bedard, RN, Community Health Manager/Local Public Health Nurse, Nashoba Associated Boards of Health
  • Lori A. Richardson, Chief Executive Officer, Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts, Inc.

Elected Officials

  • Congresswoman Lori Trahan
  • Marian Ryan, District Attorney of Middlesex County
  • State Senator John Cronin, Worcester and Middlesex District
  • State Senator James B. Eldridge, Middlesex and Worcester District
  • State Senator Edward J. Kennedy, First Middlesex District
  • State Representative Margaret Scarsdale, First Middlesex District
  • State Representative Danillo A. Sena, 37th Middlesex District

Labor

  • Audra Sprague, RN, Co-chair MNA at Nashoba Valley Medical Center
  • Tim Foley, Executive Vice-President of 1199SEIU

Other State Leaders

  • Gregg Meyer, MD, Head of Incident Command, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Last month, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced two working groups focused on stabilizing and revitalizing health care in communities impacted by Steward Health Care’s closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester. The City of Boston and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers are leading the Dorchester working group. The Nashoba Valley working group will provide opportunities for community engagement as its work progresses.  

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Media Contact   for Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Members of Working Group Created to Ensure Health Care in Communities Impacted by Closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center

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