Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1546612
HEALTHCARE HEROES | 2026 AWARDS HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 B15 Winner Category | Skilled and Assisted Living Facility of the Year Shady Oaks Assisted Living Team led by: Tyson Belanger S hady Oaks Assisted Living is a family- and veteran-owned 42-resident assisted living facility in Bristol. Its 60-member staff includes nursing, dining, recreation, office, housekeeping and maintenance employees. Together, the Shady Oaks staff provides advanced care for resi- dents with conditions that include dementia, Parkinson's disease, congestive heart failure, stroke and multiple sclerosis. Ninety percent of Shady Oaks residents stay and receive end-of-life care there, without needing transfers for higher care or Medicaid at other homes. What have been the organization's significant contributions in the past year? Connecticut Department of Public Health records show Shady Oaks had no family complaints in more than seven years and no deficiencies in our last three inspections, in 2022, 2023 and 2025. In our 2026 U.S. News survey, no resident reported feeling lonely, and respondents rated Shady Oaks 94% for meal quality. Shady Oaks has one certified nursing assistant per seven residents Winner Category | Urgent Care Operator of the Year Yale New Haven Health Urgent Care Team led by: Dr. Jeannie Kenkare, Pres- ident; Dr. Melanie Raffoul, Chief Medical Officer Y ale New Haven Health Urgent Care operates 23 urgent care centers and a 24/7 virtual care service. As part of Yale New Haven Health, it can connect patients who need additional treatment with specialists and other follow-up care within the health system. In one case, a patient who came to urgent care with a lingering cough was connected within 10 days with oncolog y, pulmonolog y, a new primar y care provider and a biopsy appoint- ment after the urgent care team escalated the case. What have been the organization's significant contributions in the past year? In the past year, we opened four new centers and launched three integrated care pathways that guide patients to the right next step when needs extend beyond urgent care. ese integrations have connected over 22,000 patients to specialists or follow-up care within Yale New Haven Health. Our orthopedics integration connects patients with an ortho- pedic provider within 48 hours, daily, one full-time RN per 14 residents, seven licensed practical nurses, one full-time recreation director per 21 residents, and one full-time chef per 21 residents. Ninety-three percent of Shady Oaks staff rate and certify us a "Great Place to Work." What's a major challenge the organization had to overcome? We needed a strong clinical team. Shady Oaks achieved this by combining good pay ($25.50 hourly CNA starting wages) and high safety. As our reputation grew, Shady Oaks won "Best of Bristol" from 2020-2026 and "Best of New Britain" from 2024-2026, while averaging 95% census. What's the organization's next major challenge? One major challenge is protecting low-asset residents from needing Medicaid transfers. Since 2017, we facilitated $1.64 million in Connecticut Pilot Program aid, but the $3,094 capped monthly average is too low. Our Shady Oaks owner, Tyson Belanger, has met with the Department of Social Services four times to seek more help. versus a typical two-week timeline, and our nurse triage line has placed over 500 patients onto same-day or virtual schedules. We built these pathways because urgent care should be the start of a patient's journey — connecting them to ever ything they need next. What are some major challenges the organization had to overcome? e biggest challenge was a frag- mented referral process, where refer- rals often stalled on technicalities. We solved it by building direct partner- ships with our health system partners, getting patients into specialty care much faster. What's the organization's next major goal and/or challenge? We're expanding integrated path- ways to include dermatolog y, urolog y, radiolog y and more, while continuing to open new centers across the region. e goal: ever y patient who walks through our door leaves with a clear next step in their healthcare journey, no matter what they need. Winner Category | Innovation Hartford HealthCare/ Hartford Hospital Department: Heart & Vascular Institute and Division of OBGYN Team members: Dr. Melissa Ferra- ro-Borgida, Cardiology; Dr. Francis Aldo, Cardiac Anesthesiology; Dr. Elizabeth Aitcheson, Vascular Surgery; Dr. Jemel Bingham, Obstetrics & Gynecology; Melissa Bragdon, RN, Nursing; Brianna Cooper, APRN, CT Surgery; Dr. Randolph Edwards, CT ICU; Michelle Falanga, RN, Manager, Labor & Delivery; Dr. Andrew Feingold, Cardiology; Dianne Fowler, CST; Dr. Jonathan Hammond, Cardiac Surgery; Kristin Hardy, RN, Nurse Navigator; Dr. Jennifer Hill, Maternal Fetal Medicine; Dr. Emily Mills, Obstetrics & Gynecology; Katie Pavia, APRN, CT Surgery; Dr. Sheelah Pousatis, Cardiac Surgery; Dr. Marine Sahakyan, Obstetrics & Gynecology; Isabella Sierra, RN; Rebecca Stewart, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, Labor & Delivery; Dr. Kevin Tally, Cardiology; Kate Yoder, RN, Labor & Delivery Team led by: Dr. Melissa Ferraro-Borgida, Director of Cardio-Obstetrics for Hartford HealthCare's Heart & Vascular Institute A multidisciplinary team was rapidly assembled to develop the safest care plan for a high-risk pregnant patient. Specialists from obstet- rics and gynecology, cardiology, mater- nal-fetal medicine, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery and anesthesia collaborated to evaluate treatment options and coordinate care for a patient in her third trimester with an enlarging aorta and aortic dissection, prioritizing the safety and well-being of both mother and baby. e patient story reflects the team's broader work through Hartford Health- Care's Cardio-Obstetrics and Women's Heart Wellness programs, which provide coordinated cardiovascular care for women. What have been the organization's significant contributions in the past year? We bring together experts across disci- plines to care for pregnant patients with complex cardiovascular conditions. By partnering closely with other specialties, we create coordinated, patient-centered care plans that address both maternal and fetal needs. Our commitment to communication, collaboration and proactive planning helps navigate high-risk situations, improve outcomes and provide the highest level of care for mothers and their babies. Winner Category | Innovation Goodwin University Department: School of Nursing and Health Professions Team members: President Mark Schein- berg; Dr. Michael Pardales, Provost; Dr. Vivienne Friday, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions Team led by: President Mark Scheinberg T he mission of Goodwin Universi- ty's School of Nursing and Health Professions is to prepare student nurses to become life-long learners. Its curriculum provides a technical educational foundation upon which students of nursing may continue to build their professional nursing careers by inte- grating theory and research into profes- sional and advanced nursing practice. What have been the school's signifi- cant contributions in the past year? e School of Nursing and Health Professions includes a dedicated group of professionals who graduate roughly 60 to 65 nurses three times per year, more than any other school in Connecticut. Coursework runs during three semesters per year and all nursing classes are offered every semester, so students don't have to wait a year for a course if they need to take time off. As the average age of students is 31, the team supports adult learning through Universal Design for Learning and provides supports for our diverse student body, which often faces unique chal- lenges outside of the classroom. What are some major challenges the school had to overcome? e fifth floor of Goodwin's flagship building was transformed during summer 2025 into a 7,000-square-foot state- of-the-art Nursing Simulation Center. Students were excited to be part of a "wall-breaking" in May and the ribbon cutting was held in the fall, ready to host its first groups of students. What's the school's next major goal? e latest addition to Goodwin University's School of Nursing and Health Professions is the radiography program. Students enrolled in the inaugural cohort are currently pursuing pre-requisites for the associate degree while renovations are underway to the second floor of our flagship building to accommodate a radiography Lab opening spring 2027.