Provider Profile – Trevor Bayliss, MD, Medical Director, Phelps Cancer Center

09:09AM / Monday, December 05, 2022Print Story | Email Story

When Trevor Bayliss, MD, was an undergraduate at Williams College and a member of the school's hockey team, he was diagnosed with cancer, a frightening diagnosis for anyone. Despite treatments, his symptoms only got worse, until he was readying himself to accept the inevitable terminal stage. But remarkably a physician steered him to a very common cancer medication that put his illness in remission. His journey made him realize that his career path was going to be in oncology, where he could help people facing similar circumstances and hopefully lead them to their own survivorship.

Dr. Bayliss is now the Medical Director of the Phelps Cancer Center at the Hillcrest Campus of BMC.

"Cancer can be one of the most physically and emotionally challenging realities anyone can face, and patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones want and deserve the best care possible," said Dr. Bayliss. "The Phelps Cancer Center is the region's most advanced and comprehensive cancer program in a location that promotes healing and well-being right here in the Berkshires. Our patients will never face their cancer diagnosis alone. Every patient is supported by an entire team of highly skilled, compassionate providers who are trained specifically in cancer care, from physicians and nurses to social workers and therapists. Additionally, all patients are assigned an oncology nurse navigator who will guide them through every step of their cancer journey. Our goal is to eliminate confusion and reduce as much of the anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis as possible, so that our patients can focus on getting better."

"At the Phelps Cancer Center, we focus on the 'whole person,' meaning we rely on the latest scientific and technological innovations in cancer diagnosis and care as well as a full range of wellness therapies to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients," said Dr. Bayliss. "Because different types of cancer behave and respond in different ways to a variety of treatments, we design treatment plans specifically customized to each unique patient."

A Berkshire native, born and raised in Williamstown, Dr. Bayliss returned to the area after fellowship training in Hematology Oncology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, where he also completed his residency training in Internal Medicine. He is board certified in Medical Oncology Hematology and Internal Medicine and has a medical degree from Albany Medical College.

For more information on the Phelps Cancer Center, visit https://www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/programs-and-services/cancer-center/.

Tags: BHS, BMC,

Pittsfield Teacher on Leave for Allegedly Repeating Slurs

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:44PM / Wednesday, May 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Herberg Middle School teacher was put on leave after allegedly repeating homophobic and racial slurs used by a student.

The teacher was reportedly describing a classroom incident when the slurs were repeated. On Wednesday, the Pittsfield Public Schools Human Resources department confirmed that an 8th-grade teacher at the middle school was placed on leave this week.

The complaint was publicly made last week by parent Brett Random, who is the executive director of Berkshire County Head Start.

On her personal Facebook page, she said her daughter reported that her math teacher, "used extremely offensive language including both a racial slur (N word) and a homophobic slur (F word) and then reportedly tried to push other students to repeat those words later in the day when students were questioning her on her behavior."

"While I appreciate that school administrators have begun addressing the situation, this is bigger than one incident. It raises serious questions about the culture within our schools and what students may be experiencing from adults they're supposed to trust," Random wrote.

"This moment should be used to take a hard look at how we're supporting responsive teaching, anti-racism, respect and creating truly inclusive classroom environments."

Her original post was made on April 30. On May 2, she reported that interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips and School Committee members Ciara Batory and Sarah Muil promptly responded and recognized the seriousness of the situation.

The Berkshire Eagle, which first reported on the incident, identified the teacher as Rebecca Nitsche, and the teacher told the paper over the phone, "All I can tell you is it's not how it appears." Nitsche told the paper she repeated the words a student used while reporting the incident to another teacher because officials needed to know it happened.

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