3 UMass faculty
selected as fellows of the American Academy of Nursing

AMHERST — Three nurse educators and researchers at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing have been selected as fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), an honor that reflects their leadership and accomplishments in the field and their contributions to health care.

Gabrielle Abelard, clinical associate professor and graduate program director; Lucinda Canty, associate professor and director of Seedworks Health Equity in Nursing; and Favorite Iradukunda, assistant professor, are among the 253 nurse leaders in the 2023 Class of Fellows. They will be recognized for their “substantial, sustained and outstanding impact on health and health care” at the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, Oct. 5-7, in Washington, D.C.

The new inductees will join the ranks of the more than 3,000 nursing leaders who champion health and wellness, locally and globally, as experts in policy, research, administration, practice and academia.

Abelard is president of the New England chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and CEO of Abelard Psychotherapy, a multisite community mental health clinic that provides comprehensive behavioral health services in the home and outpatient setting throughout Massachusetts. She also serves as the first chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Massachusetts Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Canty is a certified nurse midwife and reproductive health justice activist who has worked for nearly three decades to improve health outcomes for women of color. Canty says her FAAN recognition will give her crucial leverage to continue addressing Black maternal health.

Iradukunda, a 2020 Ph.D. graduate of UMass Amherst, is a nurse scholar who focuses on the intersection of multiculturalism, immigration and health outcomes, especially maternal health disparities, for African diasporic women and birthing people. She also seeks to transform nursing education and practice by advocating for inclusion of underrepresented nurses in global health leadership.

Iradukunda was inspired to study nursing after seeing her aunt work as a nurse in her homeland of Rwanda. She wanted to become a nurse to advocate for nurses, which would also improve the delivery of health care.

Sweet Little Farm gets $1,000 from Tractor Supply

AMHERST — Kevin O’Brien of Amherst has been awarded $1,000 for his business, Sweet Little Farm, from the Tractor Supply Company Foundation.

O’Brien served in the Navy for many years, deployed four times. His business is an organic vegetable and fruit farm.

The donation is part of $100,000 donated by Tractor Supply to the Farmer Veteran Coalition’s (FVC) Fellowship Fund, which awards grants to veteran farmers to purchase items that will make a crucial difference in the launch of their businesses. Tractor Supply’s contribution will benefit 60 farmer veterans.

Fellowship winners were selected by a team of agriculture industry professionals. Applications were evaluated based on farm training, experience and/or transferable skills, level of personal investment in their farm business and ability to show how an award will help grow their farm business. Applicants were also asked to share their vision for how their business would support their communities.

Florence Bank welcomes Hess as VP/commerical team leader

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has hired Ryan Hess of Springfield as vice president/commercial team leader.

Hess has over 11 years experience in banking, serving in roles from credit analyst and portfolio manager to leadership in commercial lending. He most recently served as chief lending officer for a locally based startup bank and played a key role in its founding.

He came to Florence Bank for its reputation as a community partner.

Hess holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stonehill College. He serves as co-chair of the Ronald McDonald House Golf Committee, a member of the Make-A-Wish Golf Committee and vice-chair of the Springfield Zoning Board of Appeals.

Cooley Dickinson receives awards from American Heart Association

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital has received a 2023 “Get With The Guidelines” award from the American Heart Association, for excellence in treating stroke. The honor was given with “Gold Plus” distinction — the highest level of the award given by the organization.

The stroke award recognizes Cooley Dickinson’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines — ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is fifth-leading cause of death, and a leading cause of disability, in the United States.

Each year, program participants qualify for the awards recognitions by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, “Get With The Guidelines” participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their conditions at home.

Greenfield Cooperative donates $5K to farm fund

Greenfield Cooperative Bank has donated $5,000 to the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund, a partnership between philanthropic organizations and private foundations intended to support Western and Central Mass farms impacted by recent flooding and rain and strengthen farm resiliency with an eye toward future climate impacts.

The Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund is administered by Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). For more information visit: https://www.buylocalfood.org/get-involved/july-2023-flooding-support-local-farms/

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