NBH President Re-Certified by Professional Society
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Fellow status represents Palmisano's continued achievement in meeting standards of professional development and excellence. Some 7,500 health-care executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing-education credits and demonstrating professional and community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo re-certification every three years.
Palmisano, a registered nurse, joined NBH in 2006 as president and CEO. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of Retreat Healthcare in Brattleboro, Vt., which is nationally recognized for its treatment in behavioral health care. He has also served as chairman of the American Hospital Association's Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services. Palmisano is an active member of numerous medical and psychiatric professional organizations, served as president of the National Psychiatric Alliance from 1999 to 2005, and was an invited guest at President Clinton's first White House Council on Mental Health in 1999.
He is a member of the Northern Berkshire Healthcare Task Force, and of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Berkshire Compact. Palmisano earned his bachelor's degree in nursing and his master's degree in nursing management from Northwestern University in Chicago.
Northern Berkshire Healthcare is the parent corporation of North Adams Regional Hospital, the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Northern Berkshire, Sweet Brook Transitional Care and Living Centers, Sweetwood Continuing Care Retirement Community, and REACH for Community Health. NBH medical practices include Northern Berkshire Family Medicine, Northern Berkshire General Surgery, Northern Berkshire OB/GYN, and Northern Berkshire Ear, Nose, and Throat. The health-care system employs more than 900 people and serves a population of about 45,000.

