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HEALTHCARE HEROES | 2025 AWARDS B14 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | OCTOBER 6, 2025 Winner Category | Mental Health Care Provider of the Year Community Matters OPCC Led by: Tangie R. McDougald, LPC C ommunity Matters Outpa- tient Psychiatric Clinic for Children provides high- quality, culturally competent, and family-oriented mental health services to individuals and families, with a focus on reducing stigma and addressing disparities in underserved — particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — communities. Guided by our CARES values — Compassion, Advocacy, Resilience, Equity and Support — we empower clients to view their mental health journey as an opportunity for healing, growth and self-discovery beyond the diagnosis. Community Matters is expanding with a new Hartford location opening Oct. 22, 2025, designed to increase access for underserved families. What have been the organization's significant accomplishments in the past year? is year, our team remained focused on advancing our CARES mission by strengthening commu- nity partnerships and expanding access to mental health awareness. We partnered with the Town of East Hartford to host a powerful mental health panel that brought together community providers to address stigma and connect families with resources. In addition, we launched community engagement events such as Mental Health Bingo, which created safe spaces for educa- tion and dialogue. While our second loca- tion in Hartford is anticipated to open soon, these initiatives demonstrate our ongoing commitment to advocacy, equity, and community-centered mental health care. What are some major challenges the organization had to overcome? Meeting the rising demand for services during workforce shortages tested our resilience. Guided by CARES, we expanded partnerships, trained future clinicians, and invested in staff support. By prioritizing equity and compas- sion, we overcame barriers and ensured families continued to receive consistent, quality care in moments when they needed us most. Winner Category | Innovation Trinity Health Of New England oracic Oncology Team Members: Dr. Anil Magge, Dr. Amrita Karambelkar, Dr. Daniel Gerardi, Amber Newman, Dr. Stefan Kachala, Dr. Emily Collier and Dr. David Grew T he Trinity Health Of New England mission is to serve the commu- nity through compassionate, patient-centered care. e oracic Oncology team is dedicated to increasing awareness, expanding access to early detection and utilizing cutting-edge technology to treat lung cancer. rough a collaborative approach between pulmonology, surgery, primary care and medical and radiation oncology, the program provides timely, innovative, comprehensive treatment that delivers excellent outcomes and advances inno- vation in thoracic oncology. What have been the team's significant contri- butions to the organization in the past year? We launched a regional lung cancer screening program in collaboration with primary care that strives to identify lung cancer at an earlier stage when there is a greater chance for cure. We also expanded early detection through a robust incidental nodule program, improving communication and follow-up with patients on poten- tial lung cancers. Our interventional pulmonologists performed more than 1,000 robotic-as- sisted bronchoscopy procedures using the Ion endoluminal system. We were the first in Connecticut to utilize Ion, and the first to pair with 3D fluoroscopy, establishing national leadership. Interventional Pulmonology added new treatment options with photo- dynamic therapy and customized 3D-printed stent technology. What are some major challenges the team had to overcome? Our major challenge was uniting multiple specialties into a purposeful, patient-centered program without delays in care. rough collaboration and open communication among pulm- onology, oncology, surgery and radia- tion oncology, we overcame barriers, streamlined diagnosis-to-treatment time and ensured patients received timely, comprehensive care. Trinity Health Of New England is proud to recognize this year's Health Care Heroes and their commitment to our community. We are especially proud to congratulate our Health Care Heroes! • William Rabitaille, M.D., FACP, Chief of Primary Care, Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group • Joan Thompson, BSN, RN, Director of Surgical Services, Saint Mary's Hospital • Saint Francis Hospital's Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry Team • Trinity Health Of New England's Thoracic Oncology Team Thank you for your contribution and dedication to our Mission! TrinityHealthOfNE.org