Leadership & Staff

Dave Richer

Chief Executive Officer

Prior to becoming Fairlawn’s chief executive officer in 2008, Dave served as the chief executive officer at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts in Ludlow. He has also served as director of rehabilitation services at Fairlawn, assistant director of occupational therapy at New England Rehabilitation Hospital and an occupational therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dave earned his master’s degree in business administration at Framingham State College and his bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at Utica College of Syracuse University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the Worcester State Foundation Board of Directors.  

Peter Bagley, M.D.

Medical Director

A pulmonologist and internal medicine physician, Dr. Bagley also serves as director of the intensive care unit at UMass Memorial Health Care, Memorial Campus, and as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. A graduate of George Washington University School of Medicine, he is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine for Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care.

Peter Bagley, M.D. is an independent private practice physician whose office is located at the hospital.

Matthew Akulonis

Director of Support Operations

Serving as director of support operations since 1993, Matt administers a variety of clinical support departments, including radiology, pharmacy, food service/nutrition and security/plant operations. He holds a master’s in business and healthcare administration at Anna Maria College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the State University of New York. In addition to his role at Fairlawn, Matt joined The Joint Commission as a Life Safety Engineer in 2010 and surveys hospitals for Life Safety Code and the Environment of Care standard compliance.

Paula Bigelow

Director of Quality and Risk Management

Paula manages the hospital’s quality initiatives, including compliance with regulatory agencies and safety policies, as well as management and evaluation of patient satisfaction data. Paula earned her master’s degree in nursing management and administration at the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, and her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Worcester State University. She previously worked in clinical/administrative roles at Hubbard Regional Hospital and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts.  

Judy Chuli

Chief Nursing Officer

Prior to accepting the chief nursing officer position at Fairlawn, Judy served for almost 10 years as the director of nursing and clinical services as well as the assistant director of nursing at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Westborough Massachusetts. Her past nursing experience includes staff RN positions at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus and General Campus, Ottawa, Canada, and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Judy also held positions as a unit manager, infection control coordinator, and quality and patient safety coordinator at Providence Healthcare, Toronto, Canada. Upon earning her RN diploma at Algonquin College in Canada, she went on to receive her bachelor's degree in nursing and master's degree in business and nursing management at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, where she also served as an adjunct professor. A Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®), Judy is a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, the Organization of Nurse Leaders, and serves on the Worcester State University Advisory Board.

Sonja Cooley-Johnson

Nurse Manager

A certified registered rehabilitation Nurse (CRRN®), Sonja assumed her position as a nurse manager at Fairlawn in 2006.  Previously, she served as a nurse-administrator for a long term care facility in Worcester County. In addition to earning an associate's degree in nursing at Becker College, she is a certified IV Midline/PICC nurse and has completed a course in wound care through the Wound Certification Education Institute. Sonja is a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.

　

Nancy Currie

Director of Case Management

A licensed clinical social worker, Nancy is the former social service manager for Fallon Community Health Plan’s Summit Eldercare in Worcester, Massachusetts. She also previously worked in administrative and clinical roles at Harrington Hospice in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and Overlook Hospice, Charlton, Massachusetts. A graduate of Clark University, she earned her master’s degree in social work at Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Jordan Eisenstock, MD

Neuro-rehabilitation Director

A board-certified neurologist and psychiatrist, Dr. Eisenstock is a member of the medical staff at UMass Memorial Medical Center, where he serves as a site director of neurology education. He is also an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at UMass Medical School, and a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) through the American College of Physician Executives. A graduate of Georgetown University, Dr. Eisenstock completed his medical degree and a combined residency in neurology and psychiatry at UMass Medical School.

John Flaherty

Controller

Prior to assuming his position at Fairlawn in October of 2004, John served as an audit manager for Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co., P.C. in Westborough, Massachusetts. He also previously worked in several financial services positions for UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester, Massachusetts. A certified public accountant, John earned his certificate in accounting at Assumption College. He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross.

Jacqueline Grady

Director of Marketing Operations

Jackie manages referral services, admissions, marketing and public relations, and managed care at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital. Prior to assuming her current position in 2008, she served as the hospital's marketing coordinator/referral services supervisor for 10 years. She has also held positions as a clinical coordinator and primary nurse at Fairlawn. A CRRN® (Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurse) and a graduate of St. Vincent School of Nursing, she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Worcester State College.

William P. Johnson

Executive Vice President

Since joining Fairlawn's staff in 1993, Bill has served in a variety of roles dedicated to developing and managing hospital programs and services. A licensed speech-language pathologist, he previously served as the clinical director of the speech and hearing center at Burbank Hospital, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in communication disorders at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and his master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Connecticut. 

Linda Larson

Rehabilitation Manager

A licensed speech-language pathologist, Linda has worked at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital since 1988. In addition to treating patients, she serves as the rehabilitation manager for the outpatient department and communication disorders department. Linda earned her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Massachusetts, where she also completed her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders.  She has presented at a number of professional conferences on topics related to stroke and brain injury.

Linda Lavoie

Rehabilitation Manager

An occupational therapist, Linda earned her advanced master’s degree in occupational therapy with a concentration in physical disabilities and technology at State University of New York at Buffalo, and her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at Worcester State University. She is a member of the Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association.  

Rosalie P. Lawless

Director of Human Resources

Prior to joining Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital, Rosalie served as the vice president of human resources for the VNA Care Network and Hospice, Worcester, Massachusetts. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, she earned her master’s degree in business administration and advanced certificate in business studies at Anna Maria College. Rosalie is the chairperson of the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, a member of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, and serves as a trustee for Quinsigamond Community College.

Corey LeBlanc

Rehabilitation Manager

Corey holds a doctorate degree in physical therapy from Simmons College and a master’s degree in physical therapy from Boston University. Having joined Fairlawn’s staff in 2002, he was named the hospital’s Clinician of the Year in 2008. A member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Corey previously worked at Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge, Massachusetts.

Amelia Monteagudo

Nurse Manager

A highly experienced nurse and nurse manager, Amelia earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts. Prior to joining Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital’s staff, she was a nurse manager at New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Amelia is a veteran of the United States Army and served in Desert Storm. She is a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives and Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society.

Florence Oppong

Nurse Manager

A CRRN® (Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurse), Florence earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Framingham State University and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She previously worked Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and as a nurse for the Worcester Public Schools. Florence is a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.  

Debra Twehous, M.D.

Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

A Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Twehous has served as medical director of various rehabilitation programs at several rehabilitation facilities, including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, the Burbank Rehabilitation Center in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Farnum Rehabilitation Center at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, New Hampshire, and the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California. Dr. Twehous earned her medical degree and completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; she completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of California at Irvine. An assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Physical Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Dr. Twehous has also held academic positions at Harvard Medical School in Boston and The University of California at Irvine in Orange, California.