Dedham Nurses at Hebrew SeniorLife Recognized in Salute to Nurses

Dedham residents Amanda Hayes, Janet L’Heureux, and Kathleen McSheffrey were recognized in the Annual Salute to Nurses. In addition, Debra Dunlap, Crescencio (Cres) Gabrillo, Consolacion (Connie) Cornell, Mary Crowe and Elsie Bourjolly who work at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham were also recognized.

Thirteen nurses working at Hebrew SeniorLife campuses across the Boston area were listed in the annual “Salute to Nurses” published in the Boston Globe Magazine, and more than 30 were nominated. The annual feature recognizes area nurses whose dedication and caring have saved lives, soothed fears, and eased the pain of countless patients and their families.

Millis-resident Melissa Magnone, RN, Case Manager at Hebrew SeniorLife Home Health, was nominated twice, including by Matthew Shuster, MD, medical director for Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, who said, “Melissa is one of the best Home Health nurses I’ve had the privilege to work with in my 35 years as a practicing physician. She is beloved by her patients, has excellent technical skills, and really understands the importance of communicating with the larger health care team.”

According to Emily Palmer, N.P., clinical director of Palliative Care for Hebrew Senior Life, “Melissa's commitment to her patients and families is unparalleled. A 95-year-old gentleman patient she recently worked with described Melissa as ‘the best woman in the world besides my wife.’ Working in the home environment, as Melissa does, can be challenging. She has the combination of strong clinical skills and genuine caring that make nursing so special. I am proud to do this work alongside her and always rest easy when we are co-managing patients, as I know they are getting the very best that nursing has to offer.”

Other nurses, who work at different campuses and were recognized for their work, include:

• Janet L’Heureux, a team leader and charge nurse at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale who has been nominated before. A Dedham resident, L’Heureux was nominated because “She is professional, experienced, and an extremely compassionate caregiver, and is known as a very dependable and confident clinical resource for the nursing team, a great team player, and someone who always goes above and beyond for her team. Janet has an understanding of the needs and care for memory care patients, and provides patient care that is compassionate and offers the best quality of life for her patients. For example, there is a patient who has no living family members and Janet came in on her weekend off to have a birthday lunch with the patient, who was so thankful for having someone to celebrate with on her birthday.”
• Sarah Sjostrom, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, was recognized because she made caring for the caregiver a priority during COVID-19. “By leading the Stress First Aid training for other leaders and staff members, Sarah made an important contribution to helping our frontline nurses manage burnout and anxiety. Sarah constantly considered different ways to invite team members to verbalize how they are feeling with the aftermath of the pandemic. She supported them with tangible interventions and this was appreciated by many staff. Always with an open door, staff feel comfortable sharing their concerns with Sarah as she provides guidance regarding the resources available for support.”
• Fana Hallemichael, Nurse Manager at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale, who has inspired the other nurses on her floor. “Although she is the manager of the Unit, she is often seen working on the floor as a nurse or PCA. Not too long ago, a PCA was struggling giving a bed bath to a very agitated patient. Fana was passing by and saw that. She put on her gloves and helped the PCA. Patients' families love her, depend on her, and appreciate the support and understanding they always receive from her. Recently, Fana lost her mother and was out for a while, and every day families asked, “When is Fana is coming back?” Fana has something special in her that makes a family, who feels guilt about their loved one, feel better and more confident. Plus, she is never too busy to sit with her staff, listen to their frustrations, and provide the comfort and support they need. Fana is truly beautiful inside and outside.”
• Cosolacion (Connie) Cornell, Rehabilitation Services Unit, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in NewBridge, who was recognized for being “caring, compassionate, supportive, knowledgeable, and sincerely interested in each patient. Knowing what fosters a successful transition from rehabilitative services, she skillfully guides patients in preparing their transition home. Additionally, given Connie’s experience, she is a ‘go-to’ nurse for other nurses when they need support. She is always willing to assist, taking each nurse under her wing. Connie exudes the very essence of what the nursing profession is all about.”

According to Tammy Retalic, D.N.P., M.S., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Patient Care Services, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, “Our dedicated and talented nurses enable Hebrew SeniorLife to deliver world-class clinical quality. We are committed to employee engagement and offering many opportunities for ongoing education and workforce development. Our nurses truly make a difference in the lives of our residents every day.”

Hebrew SeniorLife offers many opportunities for nurses to advance their careers through professional development, tuition assistance, and leadership opportunities. It serves as a clinical training site for students seeking R.N., L.P.N., or C.N.A. degrees, and trains nursing students in inpatient and outpatient settings from partner schools, including Academy Health Care, Regis College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Massachusetts General Institute for Health Professionals, and Labouré College. Hebrew SeniorLife’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program is based at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston and offers a five-week, fully paid program that combines classroom time, lab skill training, and supervised time with patients. The organization was recently designated as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. If you are interested in joining our team for a fulfilling career, please visit our careers page.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; and Jack Satter House, Revere. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.