2024–2025
As healthcare evolves, the indelible impact of nurses remains constant. An engaged, empowered, and educated nursing workforce is integral to Cambridge Health Alliance’s success as a top-tier healthcare system. Our resilient, dedicated, and compassionate nurses enable us to consistently deliver safe, quality, and compassionate care to our patients and our community. CHA is expanding on our efforts to strengthen the nursing workforce. Thank you for your commitment to our work, our nurses, and our patients.
Through the transformative impact of the PDB Foundation’s generous multi-year gift, our momentum continued this past year, and the results are powerful. From providing critical leadership training for emerging nurse leaders, to offering senior nurse leaders opportunities to perfect their craft through advanced leadership programs, your incredible support has enriched the lives of hundreds of CHA nurses. We are delighted to share with you the impact of your generosity and partnership. The following outlines key achievements from 2024 to the present that would not be possible without your support.
A Heartfelt Thank You from our Nurses
“With the deepest sincerity and most heartfelt appreciation, I write to express my boundless gratitude for your generous contribution that enabled my participation in the ONL (Organization of Nurse Leaders) leadership catalyst conference.
Words seem insufficient to convey the profound impact this experience has had on me both professionally and personally. The opportunity for genuine introspection and vulnerable connection with colleagues has been truly transformative. This rare space of psychological safety allowed us to share our authentic selves—our emotions, biases, sadness, and limiting beliefs—in ways that hospital environments rarely permit.
What I witnessed was nothing short of extraordinary: the shared humanity that connects us all as healthcare professionals. In my colleagues’ stories, I saw reflections of my own journey, challenges, and aspirations. This conference was not merely professional development; it was soul nourishing in a profession where burnout and emotional exhaustion are all too common.
Your generosity has rippled far beyond just my experience. The insights, renewed purpose, and leadership tools I’ve gained will directly benefit our nursing team, the quality of care we provide, and ultimately our entire community. What you have funded is not simply a conference, but a catalyst for positive change throughout our healthcare system.
I am already implementing the self-awareness techniques and leadership approaches from the ONL conference into my interactions with staff and patients. This experience has strengthened my resolve to foster a culture of authentic communication and emotional intelligence within our nursing team, creating lasting positive change throughout our organization.”
With profound gratitude,
• Orquidea Umana, Nurse Manager, Intensive Care Unit
With your support, over the past year we advanced work in our key priorities:
• Creating pathways for nursing leadership development and expanding nursing knowledge across CHA.
• Promoting equity by supporting programs for diverse nurses who reflect the communities we serve.
• Investing in a future-ready workforce.
Creating Leadership Pathways and Expanding Nursing Knowledge
This year your support allowed 116 CHA nurses to benefit from training in critical leadership and management skills.
From Staff Nurses to Associate Chief Nursing Officers, our nurses have shared that they feel more prepared to manage their everyday work challenges – with enhanced skills in clinical care and leadership. This growth is vital to their careers, and more importantly, to the care of patients.
CHA nurses have noted that these training experiences have been “transformational,” providing them with tools they feel are making a tangible difference. The impact continues to reverberate from individual nurses to their teams, providing greater cohesion within the CHA nursing community, and a renewed passion for the profession.
PDB Foundation funds continue to support an ongoing relationship with the Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL), a regional chapter affiliate of the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL). This partnership provides education and professional development, and a culture of advocacy and inquiry.
Early Career (Charge Nurses and Clinical Leaders)
8 Clinical leaders attended the Nuts and Bolts for Emerging Leaders program
25 Emerging leaders attended Essential Leadership Skills for Charge Nurses
56 CHA nurses attended ONL quarterly leadership meetings
Mid–Senior Career (Nurse Managers, ACNOs & CNO)
6 CHA nurse leaders attended the 2025 AONL Conference in Boston
18 attended the 3 Day Nurse Leader Master Class
8 attended the Nuts and Bolts for Managers and Directors program
13 attended Resdesigning Care: Strategies for Leadership Teams
5 attended the 2 day Financial Management and Business Essentials
8 attended Quality and Safety Foundations
27 attended Nurse Leader Coaching
7 participated in the Best Practice Solutions to Disruptive Behavior program
All-level training
16 nurses participated in a Creating Healthy Teams program
7 attended the Effective Communications Skills program
9 attended the Succeeding in Difficult Conversations program
40 participated in the Monthly Leadership Lunch Series
Promoting Equity by Supporting Programs for Diverse Nurses Who Reflect the Communities we Serve
In addition to leadership education, we continue to explore opportunities to support our diverse nurses and ensure that they have access to programs unique to their needs. We renewed membership for the New England Regional Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NERBNA), which we initiated last year to encourage participation and community among our diverse nurses.
Additionally, many of the ONL monthly leadership lunch topics are strategically aligned with core pillars of Equity, and foster greater cultural awareness and sensitivity for our nurses.
Investing in a Future-Ready Workforce
Last year, our goal was to bring on new inpatient Nursing Assistants through our partnership with Jewish Vocational School (JVS) to help fill critical vacancies.
With that goal realized, this past year, we redirected our efforts to three areas:
Training for Emerging Nurse Leaders
29
Emerging leaders attended the Preparing New Preceptors program
This past year, we are so proud that one of our staff nurses attended ONL training and was promoted to nurse manager.
• Melissa Greenwood, MSN, RN, FNP-BC Nurse Manager, 2 North Adolescent Psychiatry Unit
12
Nurse Leaders participated in the New World of Work Program
Preparing our nursing leadership workforce for future industry-wide changes
Increasing the clinical knowledge in key nursing specialties through conferences and certification.
• Fiona McCaughan, DNP, MS, MBA, RN, NE-BC Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Inpatient Psychiatry
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your generous donation for the nursing education department. One of the advantages of your donation is that it allows several of the managers to take the same class. The Organization of Nurse Leaders offers a series of lunchtime learnings that many of us have attended. As participants in the series, we are able to learn more about each other and develop common understanding and language. It also helps to ensure that we have similar tools to manage difficult situations that come up. We have also been able to attend their day long education. One of those courses was centered on learning to be a successful coach of contemporary nurses. Thank you for your generous contribution, it makes all the difference for our teamwork and trust.”
Improving specialty training in 2024–2025
Coupled with ONL programming, your support offered new training opportunities for nurses to attend nursing specialty conferences, furthering our ability to provide exceptional patient care through advanced specialty-specific skills training.
10 Staff Nurses completed the Critical Care Nursing Certification Review Course
10 nurses attended the 2025 American Association of Ambulatory Care Nurse Conference (AAACN) in San Diego
The ACNO and nurse educator for perioperative services attended the 2025 Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) conference in Boston
TESTIMONIALS
“I have served in the PACU at CHA since March 2021. Thanks to your generosity, I have had the privilege of attending virtual conferences through ONL. Many of these conferences have focused on fostering healthy teams, enhancing quality and patient safety, developing leadership skills, and navigating challenging conversations. The knowledge and skills I gained from these sessions have equipped me with the confidence and expertise to share these insights with my team, empowering us to provide the highest level of care to our patients.
Additionally, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the OR Manager Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. This in-person experience was transformative, enabling me to grow as a leader by learning from other facilities about their approaches to tasks, the challenges they faced, their solutions to these challenges, and new opportunities.
The conference also connected me with vendors who showcased cutting-edge innovations and technologies, all designed to enhance patient care. Upon returning from the conference, I was able to bring back and implement ideas and strategies within my department, further improving the care and well-being of our patients.”
• Jennifer Velez, MSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN Staff Nurse, Pre Op/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
“It has been incredibly meaningful and beneficial to my role as a nurse manager to have the opportunity to attend multiple continuing education conferences, including the American Association of Ambulatory Nurses (AAACN), the Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL), and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). The insights and connections gained at these events have directly enriched my leadership skills and broadened my understanding of best practices in nursing management.
In particular, attending the AAACN conference last year was truly inspiring. It motivated me to share the impactful work we have been doing within our Nurse Advice Center. I am thrilled that this led to the acceptance of our poster presentation at this year’s AAACN conference. None of this professional growth and the ability to contribute to the wider nursing community would have been possible without the generous support of our Nursing Education gift. This funding has been instrumental in empowering me and my colleagues to pursue ongoing learning and bring valuable knowledge back to our organization.”
• Ryan Gagnon, RN, BSN, CNML, CPEN Nurse Manager, Nurse Advice Center
TESTIMONIALS
“I enthusiastically attest to the profoundly positive impact being a member of the Organization of Nurse Leaders has had on my practice as a nursing leader. Active participation in ONLs educational sessions, peer discussions, and leadership forums, has significantly enhanced my leadership competencies and transformed my approach to leadership and strategic decision-making. ONL has provided valuable opportunities for mentorship, exposure to evidence-based leadership strategies, and timely insights into emerging trends in healthcare. These resources have empowered me to implement innovative practices within my team, foster a psychologically safe culture of collaboration, and drive improvements in patient care quality and staff engagement. More importantly, being part of a community of experienced nurse leaders has strengthened my professional identity, broadened my perspective on system-level challenges, and inspired continuous growth in my leadership journey.”
• Kristin Aviles, DNP, RN, NE-BC Nurse Manager, Inpatient Medical/Surgical Care
“I am deeply grateful to the PDB Foundation for the Nursing Leadership Education gift to pursue Nurse Manager Education. This generous support has provided us with the opportunity to enhance our leadership skills, expand our knowledge in healthcare management and ultimately contribute more effectively to our teams and patients. The education we’ve received is already making a meaningful difference in how we approach challenges, support our staff and drive improvements in patient care. Thank you for investing in the development of nurse leaders. Your commitment to advancing nursing excellence is truly inspiring, and I’m honored to be one of the recipients of your support.”
• Janine M. Hogan, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN Nurse Manager, Emergency Department
We are profoundly grateful for your support to advance our mission of improving the health of our patients and communities. With your partnership, we can provide the training needed to develop and retain an educated and empowered nursing workforce. Thank you for all you have made possible, and we look forward to realizing the opportunities your gift will allow in the years ahead.