Dr. Brahmanandam Joins BMC As Head of Vascular Surgery

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems announces the appointment of Soma Brahmanandam, MD, MPH, as the new Director of Vascular Surgery. 
 
Dr. Brahmanandam joins the Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) medical staff and the provider staff of Berkshire Surgical Services of BMC. She is accepting new patients in need of Vascular care.
 
Dr. Brahmanandam previously served as a vascular surgeon at Mount Sinai Queens Hospital in New York, where she was the Medical Director for Quality and Patient Safety. She was also an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Previously, Dr. Brahmanandam was in private practice with Prima CARE Center for Vascular Diseases in Fall River.
 
She is board certified in general and vascular surgery, specializing in surgical and endovascular approaches to arterial and venous diseases including peripheral vascular disease, aortic aneurysms, carotid artery disease, mesenteric occlusive disease, dialysis access, venous thrombosis, and varicose veins. Dr. Brahmanandam is fellowship trained in Vascular Surgery from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation/Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.
 
Dr. Brahmanandam earned her medical degree from Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, RI. She completed her residency in general surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester. During this time, she received a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics from the Harvard School of Public Health.
 
Dr. Brahmanandam's approach to patient care is evidence-based and patient-centered, and she encourages patients to be active participants in their medical care. In her free time, she enjoys traveling internationally, hiking, and studying history. She also loves to bake.
 
For an appointment with Dr. Brahmanandam, ask your primary care provider for a referral or call Berkshire Surgical Services of BMC at 413-445-6420

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

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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