Wentworth-Douglass recognizes heroes, welcomes Garrison Women's Health: Seacoast health news
Embodied Direction Wellness Sanctuary becomes designated as a mental health friendly workplace
DOVER — Embodied Direction Wellness Sanctuary, located at 66 Third St., Dover, was recently designated as a safe, judgement-free “Place” by the Dover Mental Health Alliance.
Embodied Direction Wellness Sanctuary is an inclusive, trauma-informed and therapeutic community space for mental, emotional and somatic health. Embodied Directions Wellness Sanctuary is committed to providing community based, trauma-informed, and holistic therapeutic supports. https://embodieddirections.com/wellness-sanctuary/.
Jennifer Stevens, owner of Embodied Direction Wellness Sanctuary, is an integrative and holistic therapist specializing in somatic (body-based) psychotherapy. Jenni’s practice involves working collaboratively with individuals whom experience anxiety, impacts of trauma and stress in their lives. Jenni welcomes working with people interested in enhancing their mind-body connection, therapeutic movement and/or mindfulness.
Jenni states: “Embodied Directions is thrilled to be designated as a Mental Health-Friendly Place and partner of the Dover Mental Health Alliance, and our community at large. We are committed to being part of the growth in our local community that supports resilience, responsiveness, and mental health-conscious care. Folks of all walks of life are welcome and embraced at our facility, and we are proud to provide our community with offerings that may complement their mental health care.”
The DMHA “Place” designation is available to any business, organization, or institution that strives to support their employees, colleagues, and customers’ mental health. The DMHA vision is to create a culture that understands, embraces and addresses the complexities of mental health. The mission is to build a resilient community that is educated, responsive and conscious of the impact of mental illness.
The Dover Mental Health Alliance is the community engagement arm of the local, Strafford County non-profit community mental health center, Community Partners. For more information about the Dover Mental Health Alliance go to www.dovermentalhealthalliance.org, and for more information about Community Partners go to www.communitypartnersnh.org. For more information about the Dover Mental Health Alliance and upcoming trainings, visit www.facebook.com/DoverMHA/, or email Suzanne Weete at suzanneweete@communitypartnersnh.org.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital President recognizes COVID-19 heroes
ELIOT, Maine - Wentworth-Douglass Hospital employees, who helped the hospital overcome extraordinary challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, were celebrated at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner Thursday.
Wentworth-Douglass President and CEO Jeffrey Hughes accepted a special Community Impact Award on behalf of the hospital’s 3,500 employees. He was joined by a few, who he specifically recognized for their professionalism in helping the hospital through the crisis. Those employees were each asked to take a stand and be applauded.
“In my years in healthcare, I never thought we'd be in a pandemic,” Hughes said. “But lo and behold, the past two and a half years have really been unprecedented in terms of what we have faced as providers. We've all done different jobs that we never thought we'd ever have to do. And I have an amazing team.”
Those recognized in-person included:
Drs. Ginny and Bill Hassett, a husband-and-wife team who serve as primary care physicians. The Hassetts were credited for consistently reporting to the front lines of the pandemic to staff triage tents for countless hours.
Dr. Nancy Pettinari, the medical director for Wentworth Health Partners. Pettinari served as an incident commander for the hospital’s Incident Command Structure and was at the table for every clinical decision challenge during COVID-19, including the establishment of respiratory illness clinics, vaccine and monoclonal antibody administration, and COVID-19 testing.
Martha Wassell, the hospital’s director of infection prevention. Wassell’s COVID-19 infection prevention guidance both internally to the hospital’s operations, and externally to the public via media appearances, was credited with slowing the spread of the virus in the community and convincing members of the public to get vaccinated.
Peg Gagne, the hospital’s nursing administration project manager. Gagne led the hospital’s vaccine clinics. Gagne operationalized vaccine administration to the most vulnerable in the community, and medical professionals on the front lines of the pandemic, while also recruiting volunteers to administer vaccines.
Kayla Fitzgerald, the executive director of critical care services. Fitzgerald and her team of clinical leaders were credited for working nonstop to quickly increase the hospital critical care unit capacity when it was hit hardest with a COVID-19 surge in December 2021.
Hughes went on to say that those recognized represent just a handful of the thousands of Wentworth-Douglass employees who helped the organization through the pandemic. He added he was humbled by the award and thanked the chamber for recognizing the hospital’s role in the community.
“There's something special about a community hospital. There's something special about Wentworth-Douglass, and that is this connection to the community” Hughes said. “We take our mission very seriously, and that is really to meet the healthcare needs of our community.”
N.H. Gov. Chris Sununu attended the awards dinner and took some time to chat with the Wentworth-Douglass staff members.
“You have a great team,” Sununu told staff members.
Also honored at the awards ceremony was Noreen Biehl, who spent 30 years as Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s vice president of community relations. Biehl was awarded the chamber’s Citizen of the Year Award.
The awards ceremony took place at the Regatta Banquet and Conference Center in Eliot, Maine.
Garrison Women’s Health joins Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
DOVER – Garrison Women’s Health, a premier obstetrics and gynecology practice on the Seacoast, has joined the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Mass General Brigham family. The practice is being re-named Wentworth Health Partners Garrison Women’s Health.
“We welcome the opportunity to be part of the Wentworth-Douglass and Mass General family,” said Rebecca Banaski, DO, president of Garrison Women’s Health “Joining Mass General Brigham allows us to grow for our patients’ benefit and to bring more specialty care, collaboration and seamless navigation to our patients through this partnership.”
Located in Dover, the practice specializes in supporting a lifetime of compassionate care for women by women. An all-inclusive LGBTQ+ affirming practice, Garrison Women’s Health also specializes in gynecology, infertility, obstetrics, urogynecology and surgery.
The facility is located at 770 Central Avenue and offers an onsite lab, ultrasound, and mammography screening.
Registration now open for the 17th annual CHaD HERO
LEBANON – Dartmouth Health Children’s is sending out the call for HEROES to put on their capes for the return of an in-person event on Sunday, Oct. 9. HEROES are needed for the 2022 CHaD HERO, the premiere fundraising and athletic event to support critical child and family support services at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD) and throughout the Dartmouth Health Children’s system.
The CHaD HERO will take place on Oct. 9, at the Dartmouth Green in Hanover, N.H. and participation options include running the half marathon, 5k, or Cam’s Course 1-Mile Fun Run, walking the 5k, volunteering, or participating virtually.
“We are thrilled to launch the 17th annual CHaD HERO and bring our community back together for our signature event this fall,” says Keith Loud, MD, MSc, Dartmouth Health Children’s Physician-in-Chief. “The HERO has a direct impact on the lives of kids and their families in our community, and we are incredibly grateful to the entire HERO community for their continued support.”
Since its inception, the CHaD HERO has raised more than $8 million to support children and families at Dartmouth Health Children’s who receive expert, compassionate care and benefit from the latest discoveries in child health research. Thank you to all that have made this possible!
Registration is now open. Registration fees are $15 for youth and students, $35 for adults, and $15 for Cam’s Course (all ages). There is no registration fee for virtual participation. Additional HERO details and registration information is available at CHaDHERO.org.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wentworth-Douglass recognizes heroes: Seacoast health news
