NBH President Re-Certified by Professional Society

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Richard Palmisano
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Richard Palmisano, president and chief executive officer of Northern Berkshire Healthcare, has been re-certified as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation's leading professional society for health-care leaders.

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.
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Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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