Saint Mary’s Colleagues Complete Local Leadership Program

Congratulations to Saint Mary’s Hospital colleagues Lisa Fucci and Ruben Rodriguez for their participation and graduation from the Greater Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Young Professional’s Leadership Greater Waterbury initiative, a personal and career development program that works to foster community awareness among future leaders. During the year-long program, participants collaborate with peers to create and implement projects that address the region’s current issues. Through classes, networking events and other opportunities, participants develop and refine key leadership skills.

Lisa Fucci, director of Regulatory and Medical Staff Affairs at Saint Mary’s, was part of a group that focused on raising funds for the restoration of the historic clock tower at Watertown’s Old Town Hall. The team, calling themselves the ‘Brass City Bells,’ were inspired during a History Day presentation. The group connected with the new owner of Watertown’s Old Town Hall building that houses the bells. From that meeting, the team went to work enlisting all the appropriate repairmen to assist in the restoration project. In addition, the group attained additional funds for the refurbishment of the clock’s exterior and tower. Lisa states that Leadership Greater Waterbury, “was a great experience and I made friends for life.”

Security Lieutenant Ruben Rodriguez’s group titled their project ‘Rose’s Hope Mission.’ Their focus was providing material and financial support to Rose Beers, the only school pregnancy nurse for the Waterbury Public School System. Rose, a Saint Mary’s colleague, helps students by facilitating parenting groups, community events, and clinical partnerships, as well as offering nursing, baby supplies and more. Rose is able to do this work with assistance from the Support for Pregnant and Parenting Teens (SPPT) grant. The SPPT grant is available in five Connecticut school districts with the highest teen pregnancy and school dropout rates. Ruben and his group conducted several drives over the course of the year to collect car seats, formula, diapers and gift cards. Ruben is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the project, “I made important connections that will help me in my role with Saint Mary’s. I think the experience will help me better understand and communicate with residents in the Waterbury area.”