State Senator Harriette Chandler and Isabel Gonzalez-Webster, Chief of Staff for Worcester Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien, helped kick off NRW at a staff gathering. Both are shown with Dave Richer, Fairlawn CEO.

Fairlawn's second annual Patient-Therapist Cook-Off was a huge success. Throughout the morning, groups of patients and therapists on each of the hospital's three inpatient units prepared a Cook-Off entry, using this year's "secret ingredient" of tomatoes. At noon, a panel of staff judges tasted each entry and announced this year's winners — our 2nd floor team, who whipped up a delicious tomato bisque and panzanella. All recipes were printed in our monthly hospital newsletter.

Wednesday's cook-out provided a chance for staff to enjoy some tasty barbeque and then find out who would receive the hospital's 2011 "Of the Year" Awards. This year's honorees (left to right) were: Dr. Sheree Estes, Physician of the Year, Pat Kiely, Clinician of the Year, and Kathy Trueax, Employee of the Year.

Fairlawn's celebration ended with two staff in-services. A team of occupational therapists presented an informative program for physicians and case managers about driving evaluations and the new DriveABLE assessment program. Pictured: Rachel Bernzweig, OTR/L, talks to the group as Dr. Val Veridiano tries out the DriveABLE software. At another in-service, Lisa Olinger, JD, LMHC, Central Region Information and Health Care Resources Manager from the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA), came to Fairlawn to speak with the hospital's Specialty Accreditation Committee members. She presented information on the services and resources offered by BIA-MA, as well as opportunities for Fairlawn to support the organization through sponsorships, advocacy committees, planning meetings and fundraising events.