Celebrating 10 Years of Innovators at UMass Memorial Health

For 10 years, UMass Memorial Health’s Innovators of the Year Program has celebrated thinkers, builders and problem-solvers who turn bold ideas into better service and care. Throughout the decade, these caregivers have transformed workflows, enhanced patient care and launched new services.

The Legacy of Innovation is Stronger than Ever

In the early years, the Innovators of the Year Program was part of the broader Champions of Excellence Program, which recognized teams for effective communication and innovative ideas brought to fruition. Over time, the program has grown into a systemwide celebration featuring virtual winner reveals, live events at team locations, and special recognition awards for major projects and exceptional ideas.

In April, UMass Memorial Health celebrated nominees and winners from across the system at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

2025 WINNERS

Unit Based Team (UBT) of the Year: Recognizes excellence in innovation, collaboration and the strength of the labor– management partnership in driving measurable, positive change within a department.

• Winner: UMass Memorial Medical Center Diabetes Clinic UBT Team

Idea/Team of the Year: With high demand to print and stuff letters for patients with actionable findings on scans, the team came up with a plan to improve time and efficiency. By implementing direct contact via telephone and purchasing a letter stuffing machine, they reduced three-quarters of a full time employee.

• Winner: UMass Memorial Health Actionable Findings Team: Letter Process Improvement Idea

Project of the Year: Each lab has been using different equipment, reagents and reference rates for lab tests. By standardizing these things across all labs, they obtained better pricing and maintenance costs while also improving consistency with the same reference rates.

• Winner: UMass Memorial Medical Center Core Lab Team: Chemistry Lab Standardization Project

Leaders of the Year: Recognizes leaders who champion continuous improvement and model a culture of innovation through both words and actions. These individuals create an environment where every caregiver is empowered to contribute, ideas are welcomed and valued, and the impact of strong team performance is clearly visible.

• Winners: Philip Baldyga, Director of Systems Administration and Operations, UMass Memorial Health

  Jaime Caron, Senior Director of Inpatient Care, UMass Memorial Medical Center

  Amy Harrington, MD, Vice Chair of Adult Outpatient Services, UMass Memorial Medical Group

  Carie Miele, Program Director Supervisor, UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink

  Kristie Reed, Director of Pharmacy, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington

  Amy Roux, Supervisor Rehabilitation, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital

  Christine Thuot, Supervisor of Women’s Imaging Center, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital •