Cooley Dickinson Health Care

08/27/2025

08/21/2025

Cooley Dickinson Hospital has once again been named Best Local Hospital by readers of the Daily Hampshire Gazette—plus eight more honors!

Awardees:
• Best Hospital
• Best Urgent Care (Southampton)
• Best Cosmetic Surgeon – Simone Topal, MD
• Best Individual Health Care Worker – Lynn Eline, RN

Finalists:
• Best Urgent Care Locations (Amherst & Northampton)
• Best Physical Therapy (Hatfield)
• Best Orthopedics Practice (Hatfield)
• Best Individual Health Care Worker – Jennifer Shea, RT and Michelle Helms, MD

Thank you to our amazing caregivers, patients and the Pioneer Valley community!

08/20/2025

Two Cooley Dickinson Hospital nurses, both part of the Childbirth Center team, welcomed their own babies just hours apart—and on the unit where they work.

On July 30th, Sandra Saravia, RN, welcomed her first child, Mia Grace, and just four hours later, Arlenis Baez-Williams, RN, gave birth to her third child, Vivian. Surrounded by coworkers, friends and family, they both called the experience magical.

Congratulations, Sandra and Arlenis! Read their story: http://spklr.io/6184BGlzC

08/11/2025

Lactation Specialist Lisa Fitzgerald, OTR/L, IBCLC, shares with the Daily Hampshire Gazette how the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Childbirth Center equips families with expert guidance and compassionate support throughout their newborn feeding journey.

August marks National Breastfeeding Month, a time to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and the collective efforts needed to support families in this practice. Officially declared National Breastfeeding Month in 2011 by the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), this global initiative....

07/15/2025

Cooley Dickinson Hospital has big changes underway, from a cutting-edge expansion of our Emergency Department to the relaunch of our patient shuttle service. These investments reflect our commitment to advancing the future of medicine while continuing to deliver exceptional care, right here in our community.

NORTHAMPTON — With millions invested in technology and staff, the hospital’s footprint growing with a new emergency department, and new education and transportation options, Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s new leader says the regional hospital is on course to offer some of the best health care ser...

07/14/2025

Just days before the opening of Cooley Dickinson Hospital's new Emergency Department addition, President Kevin Whitney, DNP, RN, and Associate Chief Medical Officer Sunny Shukla, MD, gave Mindy Domb, State Representative of the 3rd Hampshire District, and her staff a tour of the new space.

The visit included stops in the waiting area, triage, decontamination, low-acuity treatment suite, and one of several trauma bays. Afterward, the Representative learned about harm reduction kits provided to at-risk patients.

Thank you, Rep. Domb and team, for stopping by. It was a privilege to showcase the new ED addition, and we look forward to welcoming our community members in need of care starting today, July 14th.

07/14/2025

Team Cooley raised nearly $15,000 at the 6th Annual Bikes Fight Cancer, all to support local cancer care at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Nearly 50 staff members and friends showed up to ride in support of patients and families in our community. Funds go directly to vital programs, including:

• The Mass General Brigham Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital
• The Cancer Care Patient Fund
• The Mass General Cancer Center Operations Fund

Donate through September 30, 2025, at http://spklr.io/6189BDxFR.

06/27/2025

Thank you to our employees and their families who marched and represented Cooley Dickinson Hospital in the Annual Pride Parade and Festival in Amherst and Hampshire—we appreciate your participation and support!

06/10/2025

Last week, Cooley Dickinson Hospital donors, legislators, community leaders and media representatives were invited to a sneak peek of the new addition to the Emergency Department, which will be operational within the next few weeks.

Supported by a robust capital campaign, the $26 million upgrade will enhance efficiency and expand the unit, with the addition of nine new patient rooms, four mental health care beds, a family waiting area, and an in-unit CT scanning machine for more timely access to diagnostic imaging.

“The expansion of the ED allows better access to care for our community; shorter wait times; technology within the ED for faster diagnoses; private rooms; and helps us continue to focus on our goals of improving quality and safety as well as the patient’s experience,” says Chief of Emergency Services Alberto Perez, MD.

06/06/2025

Theresa Lipinski, RN, who works in Telemetry, was recently recognized with the for her dedication to patient-centered care. This special honor is bestowed upon extraordinary nurses for the compassionate contributions they make every day, consistently going above and beyond expectations.

"Terri has all the qualities you hope for in a nurse. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, hardworking, and listens well and advocates for her patients' needs," says a family member of a patient. "During our stay at the hospital, I felt confident about my mother’s care when Terri was around, which allowed me to relax and focus on emotional support. Most importantly, my mother felt confident. Terri’s humor, energy and interactions made a difficult time more manageable. English is my mother’s second language, she has difficulty hearing and was frightened in the hospital. Terri was patient and thoughtful when providing care and answering questions. She made information accessible and understandable. We are so grateful for Terri!"

Congratulations, Terri!

05/30/2025

Learn the importance of stroke services in our community with Emergency Medicine experts from Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Alberto Perez, MD, chief of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the Stroke Program, and Ben Hogan, EMS coordinator for the Emergency Department, sit down with Daily Hampshire Gazette columnist Bill Newman as he talks about his own experience having a stroke. Dr. Perez and Ben explain what to know about strokes and how to recognize them with WHMP.

5/28/25: Larry Hott reviews "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise" & "What Happened, Miss Simone?" CDH Chief of Emerg Medicine Dr. Alberto Perez & EMS Stroke Coordinator Ben Hogan: stroke awareness. Brian Adams w/ Politico correspondent Brian Dabbs: Trump v renewable energy. Musicians Johnny Joelson, Gin...

05/23/2025

Kerri Errico, RN, has worked on the Childbirth Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital for more than 24 years. Recently, she was recognized with the for her dedication to patient-centered care. The special honor is given to extraordinary nurses for the compassionate contributions they make every day, going above and beyond expectations.

“There were many nurses who treated me with the care and love that I desperately needed after the birth of my son, but Kerri will forever be a part of our story and a woman I will never forget," says a patient. "She held my hand through difficult procedures, she rested her head against mine and helped me breathe, she brought me ice chips and ginger ale before I even knew I needed it, and she came back to visit our family multiple times during our stay even when she wasn’t working in our unit. She saw me through those first few days of emotional and physical turmoil and I will be forever grateful for her kindness.”

Congratulations, Kerri!