Cover Story Healthcare Heroes

Introducing the 2025 Healthcare Heroes

Since BusinessWest and the Healthcare News created the recognition program known as Healthcare Heroes in 2017, the initiative has more than succeeded in its quest to identify true leaders — not to mention inspiring stories — within the region’s large and vitally important healthcare sector.

The award was created to recognize those whose contributions to the health and well-being of this region, while known to some, needed to become known to all. And that is certainly true this year.

Go HERE to see the 2025 Healthcare Heroes Digital Flipbook

Click on the names below to read  each story of this years Healthcare Heroes:

Healthcare Educator

Andrea Bertheaud

Clinical Assistant Professor, Elms College

Community Health

Linda Koh

Assistant Professor,
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass Amherst

Lifetime Achievement

Dr. Thomas Lincoln

Physician And Associate Professor of Medicine,
Baystate Health

Community Health

Areliz Barbosa

Clinical Assistant Professor
and Senior Project Coordinator, Bay Path University

Emerging Leader

Chrissy Humason

Nursing Supervisor and
Stroke Coordinator,
Baystate Noble Hospital

Healthcare Provider

Cindy Leonard

Infusion Manager,
Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center

Healthcare Administrator

Dr. Yannis Raftopoulos

Director, Holyoke Medical Center Weight
Management Program

BusinessWest and the Healthcare News will celebrate this year’s honorees on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Tickets cost $95, and tables of 10 are available. To purchase tickets, GO HERE

Presenting Sponsors

Partner Sponsors