News

Nicole Orlando Smith applied for a role at Spectrum Health Systems on a whim in 2014. She had comprehensive experience working in mental health—addressing issues like depression and anxiety after earning a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on trauma—but she had no direct experience in addiction recovery. “I was very green, ...

Last month, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy unveiled a new data dashboard in partnership with the National Highway Safety Administration to track non-fatal opioid overdoses. The dashboard uses a map to display Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data collected in each state and U.S. territory. The effort is aligned with President Biden’s ...

2022 was an interesting year in healthcare. With much of the world finding its footing in the ‘new normal,’ providers were hard at work continuing to keep clients and patients safe while deciding which pandemic-era policies and practices were here to stay, and which could be discontinued. This was no easy feat, and the entire ...

With a background in both the clinical and administrative sides of behavioral health care, Lisa Blanchard knows that making treatment accessible is key to affecting positive change amid the addiction epidemic. It’s a philosophy that she embodies in her role as Chief Clinical Officer at Spectrum Health Systems, where she works to design programming and ...

Coming from a billing background in the healthcare industry, Jeannie Saunders first joined Spectrum Health Systems in 2016. She had been unsatisfied with her previous position and a friend that worked at Spectrum had encouraged her to apply. Jeannie followed the recommendation, and the next thing she knew, she was starting at Spectrum as a ...

For the last two decades, Jonathan Miller has worked to develop IT systems for nonprofits in the healthcare space. Now serving as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Spectrum Health Systems, Jonathan’s critical role has been to oversee the management and execution of the organization's information technology strategy. Before joining the Spectrum team, Jonathan worked for ...

Based in Worcester, MA, Damaris Diaz has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She’s a diligent worker and life-long learner, but her most defining characteristic is her genuine interest in helping people find the help they need. It’s this combination of traits that makes her such a great fit for our Compliance ...

We’re proud to introduce Carmen Villanueva, a Skilled Nursing Facility Recovery Support Navigator with Spectrum Health Systems. A Worcester resident, Carmen worked as a personal care assistant for years, visiting clients, mostly seniors, in their homes to administer care. Personal care assistants play an important role in healthcare, but work schedules can be inconsistent for ...

Offering robust, ongoing professional development opportunities is one of the important ways we keep our team, at every level, on the forefront of behavioral health. In so doing, we are also able to fulfill our mission of providing the highest quality of services while being an outstanding place to work. Spectrum’s educational benefits, in conjunction ...

A keen focus on innovation has helped David Nefussy successfully navigate the ever-shifting dynamics of the health care business. As Spectrum Health’s Vice President of Payor Relations, he is responsible for crafting agreements and negotiating reimbursement with insurance companies, managed care organizations, and third-party payors to ensure the company grows its provider network while maintaining ...