Berkshire Healthcare Staff Win Senior Care Scholarships

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four members of the Berkshire Healthcare staff have been awarded scholarships through the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation, which for 27 years has supported long-term care employees with their career goals.

This year’s class of 50 Foundation Scholars, most of whom are seeking nursing degrees, will use their scholarships to further their professional development within the long-term care profession.

The four 2012 scholarship winners are:

Amar Bajracharya of Linda Manor Extended Care Facility in Leeds
Sarah Bohl of Williamstown Commons
Amber Gamello of Mount Greylock Extended Care Facility in Pittsfield
Sharon Lee Malek of Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield


"The scholarships provide a real boost to staff, helping them to complete the education required to reach their professional and personal goals," said foundation Executive Director Carolyn Blanks. "Many of our scholars have been promoted multiple times, steadily progressing from certified nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse to registered nurse and beyond."

The Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation, the education and research arm of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, has awarded more than $2.1 million in scholarships to more than 1,300 scholars since it began supporting long-term care workers in 1985. The scholarship program is one of several program components that Mass Senior Care has initiated to promote and support lifelong educational and professional development.

"Berkshire Healthcare is proud to have such motivated and talented staff members working at our communities," said William Jones, president of Berkshire Healthcare Systems. "We applaud our scholarship winners and thank the Mass Senior Care Foundation for its support of professional growth in the field of long-term care."

Berkshire Healthcare is the largest nonprofit, post-acute care company in Massachusetts, and owns or operates 17 rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities (14 in Massachusetts, two in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania); Kimball Farms, a continuing care retirement community in Lenox; and HospiceCare in the Berkshires. For more information, visit www.berkshirehealthcare.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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