BMC Resident Programs Celebrate with Graduation

11:06AM / Wednesday, July 02, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has announced that the Berkshire Medical Center Residency Programs have graduated 27 providers across its three residencies.

BMC has residency programs in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry and Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. As a community teaching hospital, BMC's residency programs play a role in ensuring access to care for all patients, enhancing the quality of services, and advancing the mission of education and excellence in medicine, stated a press release.

"As we mark the graduation of our residents, we reflect with pride and gratitude on their invaluable contributions to our hospital and our community," said Liana Fraenkel, MD, Director of Medical Education at BMC. "Throughout their training, they have not only provided high-quality, compassionate care to our patients, but have also brought fresh perspectives, energy, and innovation to our clinical teams. We thank our graduating residents for their dedication, and we celebrate their achievements as they embark on the next chapter of their careers."

In the Internal Medicine Residency led by Program Director Steven Lamontagne, MD, 13 physicians completed three years of training at BMC, while five others completed their first year of training and are moving on to advanced specialty training. Of the overall group, three residents – Drs. Avantika Bhargava, Aashar Raza and Razhan Madhar – will remain in the Berkshires and will serve in the BMC Hospitalist Medicine Department. Two others, Drs. Sheetal Manerkar and Rohan Saranu will stay on for the 2025/2026 academic year as Chief Residents and Hospitalists.

The Surgery Residency, led by Program Director Michael Disiena, DO, has graduated two providers who completed five years of training.

In Psychiatry, led by Program Director Brenda Butler, MD, four providers completed four years of training, and three others graduated early to pursue fellowships in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Erik Adler will stay at BMC working in the Behavioral Health Unit.

As a teaching hospital, Berkshire Medical Center has provided Residents training for more than fifty years. BMC is affiliated with The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Boston University.

For more information on the BMC residency programs, visit www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/medical-education-residency-programs/

Tags: BHS, BMC,

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Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder.

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma.

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024.

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero.

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.

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