More than 40 employees recognized during annual Ether Day event

In front of an audience who braved the rainy weather to celebrate their colleagues, 43 employees who had reached milestone years of service from 5 to 40 years were recognized at the annual Ether Day IHP Employee Service Awards ceremony on Monday in 1 CW. The celebration takes place annually around October 16, the anniversary of the first public surgery using ether as an anesthetic at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1846.

“Ether Day recognizes the meaningful work that faculty, staff, and leadership do,” said President Paula Milone-Nuzzo to those in attendance in person and virtually. “Your dedication has enabled us to provide the best education to our students training to be healthcare professionals, to make important advances in research, and to serve the Greater Boston community.”

Five of the employees who were honored have worked in the Mass General Brigham system for more than 20 years, including Pauline Fiorello, OTR/L CBIS, an occupational therapy clinical specialist who was recognized for her 40 years of service. 

“I am celebrating the many, many, many patients/caregivers that I hopefully have made a positive impact.  They in turn have helped me to bring that gained experience to help the next patient/caregiver.  They have helped me to be appreciative of the little things in life and to be grateful, said Fiorello, who is an occupational therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown. "Along the way, I celebrate the many colleagues who have demonstrated such great patience and compassion within their busy work days to provide such wonderful care to these patients/caregivers.  I am lucky to call many of these colleagues friends, who have enriched my life in so many ways."

In addition to the IHP ceremony, Fiorello was also recognized for her service last night at a Boston Convention Center celebration for Mass General Brigham employees with 20 or more years of service. Also recognized at last’s dinner: 25-year employees Alex Hoyt, PhD, RN, an associate professor in nursing, and Jennifer Mackey, SLPD, CCC-SLP, director of clinical education and assistant professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders; and 20-year employees Joshua Dion, DNP, ACNP-BC, RN-BC, assistant professor in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, and Elise Townsend, DPT, PhD, PCS, associate professor and associate director in the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program. 

Photos of the Ether Day honorees who attended the ceremony and a full list of those recognized on Monday are below. 

5 Years of Service 

Benjamin Adams, Physical Therapy
Katikie Appleberry, Human Resources
Kevin Berner, Occupational Therapy
Karen Chenausky, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Nicole Danaher-Garcia, Health Professions Education
Asiya Gul, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Karen Hunt, School of Nursing
Suzan Kardong-Edgren, Health Professions Education
Katharine Lang, School of Nursing
Gwendolyn Larsen, Physical Therapy
Jenna Locke, School of Nursing
Ruth Palan Lopez, School of Nursing
Sarah Rossmassler, School of Nursing
Rachel Simms, School of Nursing
Roksolana Starodub, School of Nursing
Callie Watkins Liu, Mission, Values, and Community Excellence
Justin Wong, Physical Therapy

10 Years 
Lewis Chao, Information Technology
Carla Donati, School of Nursing
Gail D'Ovidio, Enrollment Services
Jennifer Durning, School of Nursing
Roger Edwards, Health Professions Education
Shuhan He, Healthcare Data Analytics
Linda Henry, School of Nursing
Kelley Hotti, Enrollment Services
Patricia Kelley-Nazzaro, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Emilie Larrivee, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Fan Li, Finance
Carlina Maria, Physician Assistant Studies
Joshua Merson, Physician Assistant Studies
Lisa Moran, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Rebecca Pham, Physical Therapy
Kaveri Roy, School of Nursing
Meagan Sheffield, Development

15 Years 
Joanna Christodoulou, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Kimberly Erler, Occupational Therapy
Lauren Finn, Enrollment Services
Bonnie Halvorson-Bourgeois, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Jason Lucey, School of Nursing
Michael Monteiro, Information Technology
Maxine Myers, Campus Services
Bridget Perry, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Kelly Spellman, Occupational Therapy

20 Years 
Joshua Dion, School of Nursing
Elise Townsend, PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences

25 Years 
Alex Hoyt, School of Nursing
Jennifer Mackey, Communication Sciences and Disorders

40 Years 
Pauline Fiorello, Occupational Therapy