Celebrity Recovery Spotlight: Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr., celebrated as one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, is equally renowned for his well-documented battle with drug addiction. His journey, characterized by a rollercoaster of highs and lows, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of recovery. Early Career and the Descent into Addiction Robert was ...
Why It’s Okay (and Important) to Mourn Your Past Self in Addiction Recovery
Focusing on a brighter future is a cornerstone of addiction recovery. But reconciling the person you are now with your former self can be a complex and painful process. For many, a crucial step towards healing is learning to mourn that past self, the individual whose actions were impacted by substance misuse. Acknowledging and grieving ...
Spectrum Board Member Spotlight: Kashif Siddiqui
Spectrum Health Systems is committed to providing comprehensive treatment options for those struggling with addiction. A strong and passionate board of directors is essential to achieve this mission. We are pleased to spotlight one such member, Kashif Siddiqui, who brings a wealth of financial knowledge and personal commitment to the fight against addiction. Professional Background ...
Spectrum’s Ondrea Hilts on Helping People Find Recovery
Before she began working with Spectrum Health Systems, Ondrea Hilts was in college, pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in justice studies. She knew she wanted to help people but hadn’t decided on a specific career path. Soon, though, a family tragedy would shape her plans for the future when she lost her ...
Making a Difference with Stefania Cunningham, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Stefania Cunningham’s tenure at Spectrum began 10 years ago. Originally joining as a per diem nurse, she now works as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner based out of Spectrum’s Weymouth location, providing psychiatric services to clients throughout Massachusetts. In her time with Spectrum, she’s seen many changes and developments, both in the organization and in the ...
Breaking the Addiction Stigma
While cultural awareness around substance and alcohol use disorder have improved in recent years, there is still a substantial amount of stigma surrounding these topics. Despite well-established research identifying addiction as a disease, some still see it as a moral failing instead. The negative attitudes and stereotypes that stem from this belief create barriers to ...
Spectrum Health Systems Unveils Scholarship Program with Assumption University
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment and behavioral health services throughout Massachusetts, announced today its partnership with Assumption University to create a scholarship program for its employees to complete the university’s clinical counseling psychology master’s program. “We continue to see an increased need for both representation and ...
Celebrity Recovery Spotlight: Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr., celebrated as one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, is equally renowned for his well-documented battle with drug addiction. His journey, characterized by a rollercoaster of highs and lows, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of recovery. Early Career and the Descent into Addiction Robert was ...
Why It’s Okay (and Important) to Mourn Your Past Self in Addiction Recovery
Focusing on a brighter future is a cornerstone of addiction recovery. But reconciling the person you are now with your former self can be a complex and painful process. For many, a crucial step towards healing is learning to mourn that past self, the individual whose actions were impacted by substance misuse. Acknowledging and grieving ...
Spectrum Board Member Spotlight: Kashif Siddiqui
Spectrum Health Systems is committed to providing comprehensive treatment options for those struggling with addiction. A strong and passionate board of directors is essential to achieve this mission. We are pleased to spotlight one such member, Kashif Siddiqui, who brings a wealth of financial knowledge and personal commitment to the fight against addiction. Professional Background ...
Nicole Orlando Smith Discusses Her Return to Spectrum
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, ...
Spectrum Health Systems Announces Changes to 2023 Board of Directors
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a longtime not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment throughout Massachusetts, announced today the appointment of Thomas Turco, former secretary to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, to its board of directors, and Cheryl Gallant, vice president of Human Resources at Coghlin Companies, Inc., as board ...
The White House Hopes to Curb Overdoses by Unveiling New Dashboard
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 ...
A Letter from Our President: Kurt Isaacson Reflects on 2022
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 ...
Spectrum Health Systems’ Chief Medical Officer Receives Award for Outstanding Contributions to Opioid Treatment
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a longtime not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment throughout Massachusetts, and a range of recidivism reduction programming for justice-involved individuals throughout the country is pleased to announce that the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) has awarded Dr. Jeffrey Baxter, Chief Medical Officer at Spectrum ...
Get to Know Lisa Blanchard, Chief Clinical Officer
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 ...
