A native of Springfield, Massachusetts I am a retired school secretary now using my time as a community volunteer, concentrating on patient experience improvement work.

A charter member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts,  I was its first elected chair.   I have served on  the hospital’s Quality Council , Patient Safety Committee, and Patient Experience Leadership Committee.   I chaired the Massachusetts Patient Advisory Board for the PECORI “Shared Decision Making Renal Study," a three year research project and was the patient representative on the IHI Massachusetts Conversation Ready Collaborative at Baystate Medical Center.  Currently, I partner with the Department of Medicine in using simulation as a teaching tool to improve communication between clinicians, patients and families and am passionate about helping Baystate Health address the unique needs of our geriatric and palliative care patients.

My most significant credential is my role as a patient and family member. As a non-clinician, I have gained valuable insights into the delivery of healthcare through extensive experiences in various settings, including routine primary care practices, clinical specialties, and even “routine surgery” that turned into a complex situation. My involvement in hospital leadership committees has further broadened my understanding of the intricate challenges faced by a large healthcare system and its profound impact on patients and their families.

Having been widowed after 55 years of marriage, I am the proud parent of two grown sons and three grandchildren. I have resided in Western Massachusetts throughout my life.