Group photo after the award presentation. Names and affiliations, left to right, front row: Sarah Romain (Baystate), Ellen Benjamin (UMass Boston), Cidália Vital holding the award (Baystate & UMass Amherst), Karen K. Giuliano (UMass and Baystate), Eliana Gutierrez (Legislative Aide to State Representative Carlos Gonzalez), Chancellor Javier Reyes (UMass Amherst), and Jose Delgado (Springfield City Councilman at Large). Back row: Frank Sup (UMass Amherst), Adam Gómez (State Senator), and Yolanda Marrow (Baystate). Photo by Ed Cohen.
2025 Distinguished Community Partner Award presented to Baystate Medical Center Department of Nursing Research
On Thursday May 1, 2025 community members, local elected officials, and UMass Amherst faculty and staff came together for the Community Breakfast. A celebration of the work that is ongoing at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield, the group recognized UMass Community Engagement faculty awardees and bestowed the 2025 Distinguished Community Partner Award.
Lidya Rivera-Early, UMass Executive Director of Government Relations and Springfield Partnerships, welcomed the crowd with remarks by Chancellor Javier Reyes about the continued commitment to the community in Springfield and beyond through our work at UMass.
Joseph Krupczynski, Civic Engagement and Service-Learning Director and Professor of Architecture, presented the award to Baystate Medical Center Department of Nursing Research, led by Dr. Cidália Vital. State Senator Adam Gómez, for the Hampden District, presented a proclamation and official citation to Dr. Cidália Vital for receiving the 2025 Distinguished Community Partner Award.
“Under the direction of Dr. Cidália Vital, a UMass Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing alumna, our partnership with the Baystate Research Team represents a model of excellence in interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and community engagement”, shared Karen K. Giuliano, Co-Director of the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation in the nomination materials
“I’m incredibly honored and deeply grateful for this recognition. It truly wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the amazing team from Baystate and UMass. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering partnership. Together, we are moving mountains and keeping nursing research at the forefront,” thanked Dr. Cidália Vital, RN, CNL, CRRN.
The ongoing collaboration between the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation at UMass Amherst and Baystate Health, has created an unparalleled environment where frontline nurses are empowered to develop as clinicians, researchers, leaders in healthcare innovation, and experts in implementation science. This collaboration, in partnership with Dr. Karen Giuliano, RN, an academic nurse scientist, and Dr. Frank Sup, a professor of engineering at UMass Amherst, bridges the gap between laboratory research and bedside patient care through groundbreaking interdisciplinary initiatives.
As a result of this collaboration, two full healthcare product patents have already been submitted for review with a third submission planned for 2025, and numerous additional projects are underway.
The impact of this collaboration is profound, and the UMass team could not be successful without the Baystate Medical Center (BMC) collaboration. By enabling frontline nurses to participate in research and innovation, the BMC Department of Nursing Research has elevated the profession, enhanced interdisciplinary learning, and driven improvements in patient care which can only be achieved through needs-driven, interdisciplinary collaboration at the point-of-care.
Details about the awards given annually by the UMass Amherst Office of the Provost, can be found here.
Other officials and guests in attendance included Trustee Member and Springfield City Councilman at Large, Jose Delgado; Eliana Gutierrez Legislative Aide to State Representative Carlos Gonzalez, House Leader, 10th Hampden District; Springfield City Councilwoman and Vice President, Tracye Whitfield; and City of Springfield, Health Commissioner, Helen Coulton-Harris.
5/8/25