Happy New Year! I have a tradition of doing a personal retreat for several days in January, where I reflect on the past year’s learnings and celebrate any successes. I then turn toward the new year and consider my overall priorities (personal and professional), and I wrap up by setting some goals. This process is … Continue reading Winter’s Best Reads 2026

I love the holiday season, and I love wishing people peace and joy. But I won’t sugarcoat it. Finding joy can feel especially hard right now, when the current administration is openly fueling division, hatred, and fear. Try as I might to shut it out, I can’t fully disengage. Nor do I want to.  There is … Continue reading Finding Meaningful Joy This Holiday Season

“Joie de vivre” – the very phrase brings a big smile to my face!  And where better to rediscover it than Paris?  The city has a kind of magic, and I love that I captured so many people’s imaginations when I shared my “month in Paris” news earlier this summer.  I thought about sharing more … Continue reading Rediscovering My “Joie de Vivre” (Joy of Life)!

Bonjour from Paris! I’m here on a month-long retreat—toute seule (by myself)—to rest and reflect while immersed in beautiful spaces. Here, I can be alone without being lonely. It’s a retreat in every sense – a chance to regroup and reconnect with my inner creativity. I have long dreamed of spending a month in a … Continue reading Bonjour from Paris! My 2025 Summer Reading List (Inspired by Women’s Journeys)

Mother’s Day carries a special poignancy for me now. It’s been three years since my mother and mother-in-law passed away. Through that time, I’ve journeyed through grief, and I’ve made progress on healing. I still miss them both terribly, but the loss is much less painful. Part of the healing process has been giving myself … Continue reading On Healing and Finding Balance: Honoring My Mothers, Finding Grace & Space

Fifteen years ago this month, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law – a historic milestone for our country. Thanks to the ACA, over 45 million people gained health insurance coverage, and millions more gained peace of mind, knowing they couldn’t be denied care for a pre-existing health condition. This month is also personal for … Continue reading Time to Act: Protecting Healthcare Coverage, and Fighting for More

This past week, we lost Cecile Richards, a fierce advocate for women’s rights and healthcare access. Her passing is a tremendous loss for all of us who were inspired by her courage and vision. Cecile was a role model for so many, including me. Her book, Make Trouble, was the subject of my first blog … Continue reading Honoring Cecile Richards: Personal Reflections on Her Impact and Inspiration

As we step fully into the new year, I find myself reflecting on the stories I’ve read that build strength and courage – the ones that have stayed with me over the past year, long after the last page was turned. They remind me that resilience isn’t passive—it’s a choice to keep striving, to stay … Continue reading Winter’s Best Reads 2025: More Stories of Women’s Courage and Resilience

As 2024 comes to a close, I want to commemorate a major milestone and one of the highlights of my year: the friendly acquisition of Holy Family Hospitals by Lawrence General Hospital. We saved these hospitals from closing, and we are paving the way for a new and revitalized healthcare system in the Merrimack Valley.  … Continue reading My Leadership Journey: Expanding Massachusetts’ Safety Net Hospital System