New Cardiologist Joins Berkshire Health Systems

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has appointed Dr. Shyama Wickramaaratchi, a board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiologist, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the physician staff of Cardiology Professional Services of BMC. 

Dr. Wickramaaratchi is accepting new patients in need of cardiology services and joins Drs. Kyle Cooper, Teresa Menendez, Walter Paladino, Andrew Potash and Georgianne Valli-Harwood at Cardiology Professional Services of BMC.

Wickramaaratchi is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology. She is fellowship-trained in cardiology at Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, N.Y., Advanced Cardiac Imaging at St. Francis Hospital: The Heart Center, Roslyn, N.Y., and Interventional Cardiology at Franciscan St. James Health, Olympia Fields, Ill. 

She received her medical degree New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed her residency in internal medicine at Broward General Medical Center, Fla.

For an appointment with Wickramaaratchi or one of her colleagues, ask your primary care physician for a referral or call Cardiology Professional Services of BMC at 413-395-7580.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.