BMC Senior Management
Diane Kelly, RN, Chief Operating Officer, Berkshire Medical Center
Diane Kelly, prior to being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2008, served as Vice President of Quality and Safety for Berkshire Medical Center since 2002. A graduate of Western New England College with a Master's degree in Business Administration, Kelly also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, honor society of nursing. Diane joined Berkshire Medical Center in 1985 as a staff nurse and has since held various positions, including the development of the Patient Safety Program at Berkshire Medical Center.
Administrative Senior Leadership
Karen Benzie, RN, Vice President, Quality & Safety
Karen Benzie started her career at Berkshire Medical Center as Nursing Administrator of Specialty Services, and in 1992 was named Director of Infection Control. She was later appointed Director of Quality Services. Previously, she served with Geisinger Health System as Administrator in Ambulatory Care, Director of Access Services and Director of Member Services for Geisinger Health Plan. Benzie has a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, is Certified in Infection Control & Epidemiology and has conducted post-graduate MBA studies at Western New England College and Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.
Brenda Cadorette, RN, Vice President, Acute Care
Brenda Cadorette joined Berkshire Medical Center in 1995 as a Certified Nursing Assistant, became a Registered Nurse in 1996 and was appointed Nursing Supervisor in Orthopedics and Surgical in 2001 and later Nursing Director of Orthopedics. In 2004, she was appointed Nursing Director of Telemetry and Respiratory Care at BMC. Cadorette earned an Associates Degree in Nursing from Berkshire Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the former North Adams State College, now the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Sean Jennings, Vice President, Support Services
Sean Jennings has served with Berkshire Medical Center since 1989, starting his career in Security and moving on to serve in a number of positions, including Orderly, Psychiatric Aide, and Clinical Therapist, to name a few. He was later appointed Program Director of Jones III, the Medical Center's Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, and Program Director of the Center for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine at BMC. He was named Vice President of Support Services in 2007. Jennings has a Bachelors degree in Philosophy from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a Masters degree in Psychology from John Jay College.
Kim Obanhein, RN, Vice President, Ambulatory Services
Kim Obanhein joined Berkshire Medical Center in 1987 as a Registered Nurse and quickly advanced in her career to become a nursing department director. She was Administrative Director for Radiology and has worked in Quality Management and Finance. She has served in Project Management at Berkshire Health Systems, overseeing and implementing clinical projects such as renovations to the Intensive Care Unit at BMC, Pharmacy automation, outpatient imaging, development of a new Dialysis Center at Fairview Hospital, Radiology and Digital Mammography. Obanhein holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Diana Vallone, RN, Vice President, Surgical Services
Diana Vallone has been in perioperative nursing since 1987, starting at the OR staff nurse level at the former Hillcrest Hospital. She joined BMC in 1998 as supervisor for Ambulatory Surgery, later assuming responsibilities for multiple departments that make up surgical services. Vallone is a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, achieving national certification in OR Nursing in 1992. She entered nursing in 1977 as an LPN, achieving an RN in 1984 with an associate's degree from Berkshire Community College. In 2007, Vallone was awarded a Masters in Business Administration from Almeda University.
Donna Smith, RN, Executive Director, Nursing
Donna Smith has served as a nurse at BMC since 1984, beginning her career on 3 West and also working as a Crisis Nurse. In 1990, Smith was appointed Clinical Director of Nursing for Evenings and later named Staffing Office Coordinator. In 2004, she was appointed Director of Staffing and in 2006 was appointed Administrative Director of Nursing Operations and Staffing.
Roberta Gale, RN, Executive Director, Emergency Services
Roberta Gale joined BMC in 1995, serving as an Emergency Department nurse and educator. In 2005, she was appointed Clinical Leader in the Emergency Department. Gale is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a dual Master's degree in Business Administration and Nursing She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Worcester State College and is a graduate of the RN diploma program at Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing. Gale is an active member in the Emergency Nurses Association. She is currently President of the Berkshire Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association.
Service Line Administrators
Anthony DePasquale - Radiology
Anthony DePasquale joined Berkshire Medical Center in October 2003 as a clinical operations manager and was promoted to Service Line Administrator in October 2005. As Radiology Service Line Administrator, he is responsible for the day to day operations of radiology and oncology, equipment purchases and the growth and expansion of those departments. DePasquale graduated as a licensed X-ray technologist from the Glens Falls Hospital School of Radiologic Technologists in 1996 and he earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from SUNY Empire State College in 2001. DePasquale will begin pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree in 2008.
Karen Kradel, RN - Cardiology
A 1986 graduate from the University of Massachusetts as a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree, Karen Kradel started her nursing career at Berkshire Medical Center as a staff nurse on one of the medical/surgical units. From there, Kradel transferred to the Telemetry Unit where she was promoted and served as the manager of the department for the next 15 years. In 2004, she became the Cardiology Service Line Administrator where she currently presides. Her role as Cardiology Service Line Administrator entails working directly with physicians, nurses, technicians and office personnel to meet the inpatient and outpatient cardiology needs for Northern, Central and Southern Berkshire County. Serving as a manager for the last 18 years, Kradel has earned a reputation for building and leading strong high performance teams, maintaining high employee motivation and morale, and exceeding departmental objectives.
Peter Moore, Medical Specialties & Neurosciences
Peter Moore has served as Service Line Administrator for Medical Specialties & Neurosciences since 2005. As the Service Line Administrator for Medical Specialties & Neurosciences, Moore oversees the Behavioral Health Division, Rehabilitation Division the Sleep Lab and Dental Clinic. A graduate of Western New England College with a Master's degree in Business Administration, Moore also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Western Connecticut University in Danbury Connecticut. Moore started his career at BMC in 1999 as an accountant and was promoted to the position of Business Manager of the Home Care Division in 2002. Peter was awarded the 2005 BMC Excellence in Management Award.
