Radiation Oncology Services Move to BMC Cancer Center

03:17PM / Wednesday, April 06, 2016Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems' Radiation Oncology services has opened in its new location at the BMC Cancer Center.

The move brings both Radiation Oncology and Hematology Oncology into a single location at the Hillcrest Campus of Berkshire Medical Center and completes a nearly $6 million investment by BHS in Radiation Oncology. The BMC Cancer Center is located at 165 Tor Court in Pittsfield.

The new Radiation Oncology clinic at BMC Cancer Center has state-of-the- art technology, featuring two new linear accelerators. Both units, a Varian IX, and a Tomotherapy HD, are designed to provide highly precise treatment and targeting of the radiation therapy, and significantly reduce any impact on surrounding healthy tissue. The accelerators can obtain either CT or X-ray images to increase the precision and accuracy of the radiation beams. Utilizing a computerized treatment planning system to calculate treatment dose and coordinate targeting, beams can rotate around the body entering from numerous directions. BMC has also installed a new CT Simulator for Radiation Oncology, which provides advanced treatment planning for each patient prior to receiving radiation therapy.

“Berkshire Health Systems has a long-standing commitment to providing the most advanced Radiation Oncology treatment therapies,” said Dr. Wade Gebara, medical director of Radiation Oncology services at BMC. “This significant investment by the health system is designed to focus on our current needs and also the needs of the foreseen future for our community.”

Radiation Oncology services at BMC sees nearly 440 patients a year. A course of individual treatment is made up of between one to 44 treatments, all customized for the individual patient’s illness.

The location of Radiation Oncology services at the BMC Cancer Center is another phase in the completion of the Center, which opened in the fall of 2013. The Cancer Center provides comprehensive cancer care services, including Hematology Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Radiation Oncology and a range of Integrative Care services, all under one roof, and set in a scenic location surrounded by the Berkshire hills and near Onota Lake.

Tags: BMC, oncology,

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Pittsfield Outreach Program Sees Manager

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Monday, August 17, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Health Department's outreach program has a manager and is seeking two outreach workers.

Earlier this month, Director of Public Health Andy Cambi updated the Board of Health on the creation of a new initiative that connects individuals on the streets with needed services.

He reported that Community Health Worker Gabrielle DiMassimo was tapped as the Community Health Program Manager a couple of weeks prior after it was posted internally. DiMassimo has been reaching out to unhoused people in encampments with the Parks Department and co-responders, and other staff this summer.

"She's been with the department for a couple years, holds a bachelor's degree in public health, and has been doing a lot of this work," Cambi said.

"Even in her college years, she was doing encampments and outreach with Worcester Public Health Department, so she really fit the bill for this position."

The position oversees Pittsfield's peer outreach initiative while advancing the long-term vision for the health department to be a more proactive, community-centered public health agency, as well as the health department's evolving responsibility to address prevention, access to services, social determinants of health, and community well-being through coordinated outreach and engagement.

Last year's controversial camping ordinance was sent to the Board of Health, and they determined it is not the best approach for Pittsfield. It was officially scrapped by the City Council earlier this year and replaced with a peer outreach program that provides harm reduction support services, navigation, and relationship-building with vulnerable residents.

The program director and outreach worker positions were approved by the City Council earlier this season. The outreach worker positions were posted internally, received applicants, and will soon go external to expand the candidate pool.

Cambi reported that the encampment group has been conducting outreach with DiMassimo. Workers speak with people at the encampments, tag the equipment, give the people an opportunity to relocate, and connect them with available resources.

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