On December 9, 2014, the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center held its  annual Staff Recognition and Holiday Party. Bringing in staff from the various Kennedy CHC sites, the event saw management, employees, and board members come together to share a meal and celebrate each other. Awards of service and scholarships were handed out, as well as many prizes and gifts up for grabs in a holiday raffle.

Awards of Service were given to employees who have been part of the Kennedy CHC family for five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and for the first time in Kennedy CHC history, thirty years.

Recipients of Service awards were:

Five Years of Service
Dana DelDotto
Gleidistoney De Oliveira
Corrine De Girolamo
Andrea Earley
Theodor Ene
Brenda Figueroa
Brian Genna
Ivonne Jimenez
Belinda Ortiz
Marisol Ortiz
Aruna Pappu
Usha Rallapalli
Sandra Restrepo
Francisco Vale
Renata Vieira

Ten Years of Service
Nora Alarcon
Jaclyn Bilello
Kelly Celestino
Sandra Durand
Paula Kaminow
Marline Ruiz
Ivelisse Sully

Fifteen Years of Service
Firas Aldarawcheh
Elizabeth Dobles
Tina King
Monica McGinty
Leo Negron-Cruz
Evelyn Ortiz
Ha Phan
Michele Pici
Ethel Serrano

Twenty Years of Service
Carmen Matias
Gloriselle Garcia

Thirty Years of Service
Grace Andrade

Newly created, The Imagination Scholarship award is given to a deserving Medical Assistant with the intention of aiding in the repayment of loans incurred during their certification studies.  Though designed to be awarded to one recipient, with the generous funds of an anonymous donor, the scholarship was awarded to four deserving Kennedy CHC employees:

Iliana Perez-Guivas
Samantha Rodriguez
Luciana Dos Santos
Julissa Marte

The Customer Service Award was given to Nora Alarcon and Juliana Ruggieri.

Shawn Liddy of the IT department was awarded Employee of the Year.

The president’s award was given to Jaclyn Bilello, a Physician’s Assistant whose outstanding work with Worcester’s refugee population has made her stand out.

During the celebration, Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Chair of the Board of Directors, presented outgoing Chair Matt Hogan with the Charles Estus Award for his commitment to Kennedy CHC. Dr.Charles Estus, one of the founders of Kennedy CHC (formerly Great Brook Valley Health Center) passed away last month after a long life of service, making the award a truly special honor.

The event was a testament to the combined efforts of all Kennedy CHC staff in improving the health and welfare of the communities they serve. It was a celebration of each other’s contributions and recognition of the positive change affected in 2014. As the New Year approaches, Kennedy CHC holds strong in its mission “To help people live healthier lives”.

Worcester, MA – October 20, 2014 –The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announces that it has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization.

The findings were part of HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 2014, a unique annual survey that encourages equal care for LGBT Americans, and recognizes healthcare institutions doing the best work.

Kennedy CHC earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve.

Antonia G. McGuire, President and CEO of Kennedy CHC states, “This acknowledgement of our work is a testament to the commitment of our staff and clinicians who strive daily to address health disparities and health equity issues. Our mission is to insure that everyone has equal access to health care. We are proud to have achieved this significant recognition.”

Kennedy CHC was one of a select group of 426 healthcare facilities nationwide to be named Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality. Facilities awarded this title meet key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBT health education for key staff members.

“Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality change the lives of LGBT patients and their families for the better each and every day,” said Chad Griffin, HRC president. “LGBT people should be treated equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC celebrates the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center for their tireless work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients.”

The Healthcare Equality Index offers healthcare facilities unique and powerful resources designed to help provide equal care to a long-overlooked group of patients, as well as assistance in complying with new regulatory requirements and access to high-quality staff training.

For more information about the Healthcare Equality Index 2014, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/hei.

Windstream staff, Adam Katz, Director, Account Development (Left) and Elizabeth Doherty, Senior Account Manager (R) present Matt Sanford, IT Director for the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, with two tickets to an upcoming Patriots Game to be used to help raise money for the organization’s annual appeal.

Boston-based Windstream is a provider of data, voice, network and cloud services. They are currently a business partner of Kennedy CHC. Contact: Paula Green, 508-532-7305 paula.green@kennedychc.org

Racism hurts and is hard to heal. It takes everyone working together against hate, bias and prejudice. United we stand. Join us in creating a more just and healthy society.

Challenge yourself to: “Listen without prejudice, to love without limits and to reverse the hate.” (Orlando Jones)