Chamber Happenings: Health Care Council awards mark 10th year

Chamber Happenings: Health Care Council Awards Mark 10th Year

*This column originally appeared in the Republican-American Newspaper on Monday, June 15, 2015.

Beginning in 2006, the Chamber’s Health Care Council has honored several very deserving individuals and organizations each year during its Annual Members’ Breakfast and Awards Ceremony. The milestone 10th anniversary of this event will take place tomorrow, June 16, at the Courtyard by Marriott, 63 Grand Street, Waterbury beginning at 8 a.m. Our keynote speaker will be James Iacobellis, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the Connecticut Hospital Association, who will discuss the impact of the General Assembly’s 2015 Legislative Session on healthcare in Connecticut.

The 2015 Organizational Excellence Award will be presented to Wellmore Behavioral Health, which serves a 49-town region in western Connecticut and more than 15,000 clients on an annual basis, including children, adolescents, adults and entire families. The organization was formed in 2011 to create an innovative, lifespan-oriented community behavioral health model dedicated to continually providing behavioral health services that are more advanced, more readily available and more effective.

The 2015 Leadership Award will be presented to Fran DeBlasio, of Easter Seals Greater Waterbury, Central & NW Connecticut. Fran has been instrumental in the organization’s recognition as a major provider of developmental, medical, vocational and educational program and services. Its diverse programming includes quality early childhood education, comprehensive hearing support, outpatient medical rehabilitation, school to work programs, community employment placement, vocational assessments and training.

The 2015 Stephen Sasala Health Advocate Award will be presented the Republican-American. The newspaper has committed considerable resources to its healthcare coverage for our community, including extensive coverage of proposed mergers and issues impacting both Waterbury and Saint Mary’s Hospitals during the last several years. At a time when patients need to become more informed on healthcare, and more importantly, advocates of their own health and the health of family members, it is crucial to have reliable healthcare coverage by our region’s news media.

Sandra Micalizzi, APRN, CDE of Heart Center of Greater Waterbury, will receive the 2015 Unsung Hero Award, which is presented to a health care practitioner who has distinguished him or herself by providing exceptional care, compassion and commitment in their daily work. Sandy was employed at Saint Mary’s Hospital for more than 20 years prior to her tenure at the Heart Center that began in 2010. Her current work includes outreach to senior centers, attending health fairs, and community outreach education for the greater Waterbury area and is an outstanding example of a community nurse.

We are grateful for the generous support of Platinum sponsor Saint Mary’s Health Systems, Gold sponsors Carmody, Torrance, Sandak & Hennessy, LLP, Glenwood Systems, LLC, The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, Naugatuck Valley Radiology, Village Green of Waterbury, Waterbury Hospital, Wellmore Behavioral Health and Silver Sponors Acces Rehab Center, CohnReznick, LLP, Flooring America, Village at East Farms and VNA Health at Home, Inc.

There are still seats available for tomorrow’s event, where we will also announce winners of the Tighten Your Belt challenge. To register, please visit www.waterburychamber.com or call (203) 757-0701.

Lynn Ward is president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber. You can reach her by e-mail at lward@waterburychamber.com or by phone at (203) 757-0701.