New Chief of Cardiology Joins Berkshire Health Systems

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has appointed Dr. Peter Chien as the new division chief of cardiology at Berkshire Medical Center. 

Dr. Chien, a board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiologist, joins the BMC medical staff and the physician staff of Cardiology Professional Services of BMC. He is partnered with doctors Kyle Cooper, Andrew Potash, Georgianne Valli-Harwood and Shyama Wickramaaratchi at Cardiology Professional Services of BMC, and he is accepting new patients in need of cardiac care.

Chien has previously held leadership roles in several organizations and most recently practiced as a non-invasive cardiologist at York Hospital in York, Maine.

He is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease and was fellowship-trained in cardiovascular disease at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College and completed his residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. He later earned an executive master of business administration degree from the University of Connecticut, where he was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for business school programs.

For an appointment with Dr. Chien or one of his colleagues, ask your primary care physician for a referral or for more information 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.