Berkshire Health Systems Welcomes Orthopaedic Surgeon

12:21PM / Friday, April 29, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Berkshire Health Systems welcomes Khaled "Kelly" Instrum, MD, a board certified and fellowship trained orthopaedic

surgeon, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the provider staff of Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates. Dr. Instrum, who has specialized training and experience in shoulder and knee surgery, is accepting new patients in need of Orthopaedic care.

Dr. Instrum is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and was fellowship trained in Shoulder and Knee Surgery at the University of Calgary. He received his medical degree from Dalhousie Medical School, Halifax, Nova Scotia and completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Calgary.

"Orthopaedic patients often suffer with pain or deformity impacting their daily lives. My goal is to help manage this through a nonoperative or operative approach depending on what is the best action for the individual," said Dr. Instrum. "My philosophy is that, as an orthopaedic surgeon, I do not save lives — I make people's lives better. I return them to the things that give them enjoyment in life."

Dr. Instrum came to the Berkshires from Holyoke Medical Center, where he had served since 2010.

Dr. Instrum enjoys sports, in particular ice hockey. "Being Canadian, hockey has been a big part of my life. I have also grown up playing many sports including football, baseball, skiing and snowboarding, racquet sports, as well as golf. I have been an avid sports fan particularly of the Montreal Canadiens and the New England Patriots. Travel is also one of my passions. I have lived abroad and have also traveled to many parts of the world. There are still many places left to explore."

Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates is an affiliate of Berkshire Health Systems and has locations in Pittsfield, North Adams and Great Barrington. For an appointment with Dr. Instrum or one of his colleagues, ask your primary care physician for a referral or call Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates at 413-499-6600.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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