Celebrating Excellence in Medical Assisting at Southern New Hampshire Heatlh

Southern NH Health recently gathered to recognize the outstanding contributions of our medical assistants at the annual Medical Assistant Excellence Awards celebration.

This special evening highlighted the professionalism, dedication, and impact of Medical Assistants across our ambulatory practices. We were proud to recognize 29 excellence nominees, each representing the very best of patient-centered care and teamwork.

Among this year's nominees were nine medical assistants who began their careers through Southern NH Health's Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program, demonstrating the success of our commitment to workforce development and professional growth. We were also excited to celebrate the continued excellence of our workforce, with two previous award winners nominated again this year and several individuals earning recognition multiple years in a row.

The evening began with welcome remarks from CEO and President Colin McHugh and Julie Tuttle-Varney, RN Director, followed by reflections from Chief Medical Officer Sal Vella and Chief Quality Officer Rebecca Cooper-Piela, who highlighted the vital role Medical Assistants play in delivering safe, high-quality ambulatory care and supporting exceptional patient experiences.

Attendees also heard an inspiring presentation from Kelly McKinnon, RMA, BPH, who shared her personal and professional journey in medical assisting. Her story highlighted the opportunities for growth, advancement, and lifelong learning within the profession and served as a powerful reminder of the meaningful impact medical assistants have on patients, colleagues, and the healthcare community.

In recognizing this year's nominees and award recipients, we celebrated individuals who exemplify patient advocacy, engagement, clinical excellence, leadership, inspiration, and commitment. These team members consistently go above and beyond to support patients, families, colleagues, and providers, helping to advance Southern NH Health's mission every day.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Primary Care Excellence Award: Christina Bosquet, NCMA, Primary Care of Milford
• Specialty Care Excellence Award: Megan Dupras, CCMA, Endocrinology
• Up and Coming Excellence Award: Selena Sanchez, CCMA Downtown Medical Associates
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Cathy Lyman, MA, Women's Care of Nashua

The evening concluded with remarks from Chief Nursing Officer Sue Santana, who reflected on the critical role medical assistants play in supporting the health and well-being of both our communities and care teams. She also highlighted the ongoing success of the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program, which has achieved an impressive 85% retention rate, demonstrating the value of investing in and developing the future healthcare workforce.

Congratulations to all our nominees and award winners. Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Your work makes a meaningful difference every day and strengthens our mission of providing exceptional care to the patients and communities we serve.