Health & Medical Coordinating Coalition
Massachusetts Region 2
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPEM) has developed Health and Medical Coordinating Coalitions (HMCC) in each of the six regions throughout the state. These HMCCs are made up of healthcare organizations and local public health departments; additionally, each coalition has an Executive Committee that consists of representatives from the following disciplines: community health centers, EMS, hospitals, local public health, and long-term care.
For each region, OPEM has chosen a Sponsoring Organization to oversee the fiscal and administrative aspects of the program. Within each Sponsoring Organization are a Program Manager and a Planning and Operations Coordinator, who each serve in a full-time capacity.
In Region 2, the City of Worcester has been named the Sponsoring Organization, with the HMCC Program Manager, HMCC Planning and Operations Coordinator, and Chief of Emergency Preparedness making up the Division of Public Health’s Office of Health and Medical Preparedness. Additionally, the Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps (WRMRC) is housed within that office.
What We Do
Within Region 2 are seventy-four local public health departments, nine acute care hospitals, and hundreds of other healthcare related organizations, including community health centers, long-term care centers, and EMS providers. The goal of the Reg 2 HMCC is to align the emergency planning, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts of those entities so that they may feed into a larger regional plan.
- Members will receive notification of regional workshops, conferences, and trainings
- Members gain access to emergency plans, policies, and tutorials
- The HMCC can work with your team on reviewing plans and exercises
- The HMCC can also provide healthcare emergency preparedness presentations for your team
Who We Are
Alissa Errede, MSEM
Through her position as the Chief of Emergency Preparedness within the City of Worcester’s Division of Public Health, Alissa Errede serves as the Chief of Emergency Preparedness for the Massachusetts Region 2 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC). Alissa oversees the fiscal, administrative, and programmatic components of the HMCC grant. She also takes a lead role in the development and implementation of initiatives designed to foster a multi-disciplinary, regional approach during all phases of an emergency, such as the annual Region 2 Health and Medical Emergency Preparedness Conference. Prior to her current role, Alissa worked in a similar capacity in Maine which provided insight into how a coalition may function in a more rural environment. She holds a BA in English from Worcester State University and a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Pamela Masters, MSEM
Through her position within the City of Worcester’s Division of Public Health, Pamela Masters serves as the Program Manager for the Massachusetts Region 2 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC). Pam oversees the fiscal and programmatic components of the HMCC grant. She also takes a lead role in the development and implementation of initiatives designed to foster a multi-disciplinary, regional approach during all phases of an emergency. Prior to her current role, Pam worked 10 years in a similar capacity for one primary (and supported three additional) Healthcare Coalitions in Georgia. She holds a BA in Psychology from UMass Dartmouth and an MS in Emergency Management from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Shane Keville-Wagner, BSEM
Planning and Operations Coordinator
Keville-WagnerS@Worcesterma.gov
Through his position within the City of Worcester’s Division of Public Health, Shane Keville-Wagner serves as the Planning and Operations Coordinator for the Massachusetts Region 2 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC). Shane is the liaison between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the seventy-four local Boards of Health in Region 2. Shane works with all Region 2 healthcare organizations and local public health departments to ensure PHEP and HPP grant deliverables are fulfilled. Shane holds a BS in Emergency Management from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Prior to his role with the City of Worcester, Shane developed Emergency Preparedness Plans for Massachusetts Municipalities, and most recently, was the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Coordinator for Southern Worcester County.
Chelsea Orefice, MPH
HMCC Planning & Operations Coordinator
OreficeC@worcesterma.gov
Through her position within the City of Worcester’s Division of Public Health, Chelsea Orefice serves as the Planning and Operations Coordinator for the Massachusetts Region 2 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC). Chelsea oversees the fiscal and programmatic components of the HMCC grant. She also takes a lead role in the development and implementation of initiatives designed to foster a multi-disciplinary, regional approach during all phases of an emergency. Prior to her current role, Chelsea worked at MA DPH performing drug overdose surveillance for the entire state and has done public health programming and prevention work for municipalities in Western Massachusetts. She holds a BS in Engineering Sciences from Smith College and an MPH from the George Washington University.