Mercy Colleagues to be Recognized as Healthcare Heroes by BusinessWest

Cindy Leonard, BSN, OCN, Infusion Manager at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center.

(Left to right) Mercy’s Laurie Loiacono, MD; Yee family friends Peter Picknelly and Tony Ravosa; Sarah Yee; Philip Glynn, MD; and Tim Stanton, Regional Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Trinity Health Of New England.

Cindy Leonard, RN, BSN, OCN, Infusion Manager at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, has been named to the Springfield-based publication's Healthcare Heroes Class of 2025 in the Healthcare Provider category. BusinessWest will also present a Collaboration in Healthcare Award to the team of colleagues and Mercy supporters who worked on the creation of the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit.

Cindy oversees all the essential activities within the infusion center with a continual focus on quality care, medical oncology infusion services at Mercy provide over 17,000 treatments annually. In addition to numerous administrative responsibilities, Cindy routinely interacts with physicians, medical assistants, nursing staff, administration, pharmacy, and housekeeping as well as patients and their family members – all while taking on her own daily patient load. Cindy manages to balance it all, relying on a skill set that began 40 years ago as a pediatric oncology nurse and has been cultivated into a model of cheerful patient-centered nursing professionalism. Cindy is one of those rare individuals who always gives you her full attention, making your needs and concerns her most important needs and concerns. You can read Cindy’s full profile here.

Earlier this year, a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony were held to officially open the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit, named in honor of the late well-known restaurateur and longtime supporter of Mercy. During his treatment at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, Andy and his wife Sarah developed a strong relationship with his oncologist, Philip Glynn, M.D. After Andy’s passing, and with gratitude for the compassionate care her husband received at Mercy, Sarah met with hospital leaders about creating a space dedicated to palliative care for patients. Following this meeting, an incredible collaboration was born. Over the next several years, Andy’s family and friends sprang into action, collaborating with Trinity Health Of New England’s Philanthropy Department on a fund-raising effort that ultimately raised $1.5 million for the creation of the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit at Mercy Medical Center. This effort will be recognized with the Collaboration in Healthcare Award. You can read the remarkable story here.

Mercy’s honorees will join other members of the Class of 2025 on Wednesday, October 22, at the annual Healthcare Heroes Gala at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.