Awards program recognizes top ten women leaders in Massachusetts demonstrating impact, inspiration, and innovation across the healthcare industry

November 16, 2023 (Boston, MA) – Innovive Health, a data-driven home healthcare agency serving complex behavioral health patients, announced today that the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kristen Palumbo, was recognized with a 4th Annual Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare Award from The Women’s Edge (formerly The Commonwealth Institute), the leading nonprofit organization devoted to advancing women leaders. This award is the first of its kind in the nation, reaching across diverse sectors of healthcare – from life sciences, healthcare education and systems, to healthcare foundations, patient care, and public health. It recognizes and celebrates remarkable healthcare leaders in Massachusetts for their outstanding career achievements and resounding impact.

In her role as COO and Chief Compliance Officer, Kristen Palumbo, MHCDS, BSN, RN, NE-BC, works closely with the leadership team to implement strategies across the organization to support Innovive Health’s mission to provide innovative, compassionate home healthcare to a diverse population of complex patients with multiple chronic medical and psychiatric disease processes. She ensures that Innovive’s clinical team provides exceptional care that promotes increased independence, addresses social determinants of health, and improves patient outcomes in the lowest cost care environment.

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a global leader in the healthcare industry so it is fitting that The Women’s Edge – an organization founded 26 years ago to help women leaders in Massachusetts achieve greater success – would celebrate and honor emerging women leaders in the industry,” said Elizabeth L. Hailer, CEO of The Women’s Edge and EWAH co-Chair. “This award is a testament to the dedication, innovation and influence of each of these extraordinary women leaders.”

Over 150 nominations were received for the 2023 Awards. Ten finalists were selected for their impact and innovative ways ofadvancing healthcare, for inspiring and leading others, and fostering diversity in their organizations and the healthcare community through policy, practice, and mentorship. The honorees’ unwavering dedication to improving healthcare and commitment to mentoring others has left an indelible mark on the lives of many and the healthcare community.

“I cannot think of a more deserving person than Kristen to receive the 2023 Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare Award,” said Joseph McDonough, CEO of Innovive Health. “Anyone who knows her has tremendous admiration and respect for her, not only as an innovative leader and clinician, but also because of her high level of integrity and moral character. There are few people who know our industry as well as Kristen does. She works tirelessly to support our patients and employees to do their very best.”

Palumbo is also very active with the National MS Society. After being diagnosed with the disease last October, she reached out to the organization to see what she could do to help those who were newly diagnosed. Through this partnership, Kristen has helped support advocacy, education, and fundraising efforts and assisted with presentations for those newly diagnosed with the disease, called “New to MS.” It helps them understand what to expect, what is happening to them and how to advocate for themselves in the doctor’s office.

“I am honored to be celebrated among this extraordinary group of women advancing in healthcare,” said Kristen Palumbo, COO of Innovive Health. “Now, more than ever, it is imperative to shine a light on issues impacting the healthcare industry – especially around the rapidly increasing population of behavioral patients, who are often the most vulnerable and underserved individuals in the healthcare system. Thank you to the Women’s Edge for this recognition – I’m so proud to accept this honor on behalf of Innovive Health, our dedicated and talented employees and clinicians, and all of the women making a difference in healthcare.”

The full list of the 2023 Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare in Massachusetts honorees includes:

  • Christina M. Bailey-Hytholt, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Mareshia Donald, PhD, Director, Chief of Staff to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
  • Dallas Ducar, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, CNL, FAAN, CEO, Transhealth
  • Naomi Fried, PhD, Founder & CEO, PharmStars
  • Erin Nahrgang, RN, CCM, Senior Director ACO Complex Care Management, Boston Medical Center Health System
  • Kemi Olugemo, MD, FAAN, VP, Global Clinical Development, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical
  • Kristen Palumbo, MHCDS, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Innovive Health
  • Viveka Prakash-Zawisza, MD, MS, MBA, Senior Associate Medical Director, MassHealth
  • Darlene Rodowicz, President & CEO, Berkshire Health Systems
  • Sylvia Rosas, MD, MSCE, Director, Latino Kidney Clinic, Joslin Diabetes Center, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Kristen was honored at the EWAH awards reception on November 15, 2023. For additional information about the award and to learn about this year’s recipients, please visit https://thewomensedge.org/events-awards/extraordinary-women-advancing-healthcare/. For additional information about Innovive Health, please visit https://innovivehealth.com, and for additional information about multiple sclerosis, please visit The National MS Society at https://www.nationalmssociety.org.

About Innovive Health

With operations in Massachusetts and Colorado, Innovive Health is one of the nation’s fastest growing home healthcare agencies focused on serving complex behavioral health patients. Innovive Health has been delivering strong clinical outcomes for nearly two decades and is transforming healthcare through an innovative model of patient-centered, data driven, full-service home care. The agency provides high quality nursing and services to some of the nation’s most vulnerable and underserved populations in the safety and comfort of their homes and communities. For more information, visit https://innovivehealth.com.

About The Women’s Edge

The Women’s Edge (formerly The Commonwealth Institute) is a non-profit organization that works with women CEOs, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, and the rising generation of women leaders to help them build successful businesses, organizations, and careers. For 26 years, The Women’s Edge has provided a variety of opportunities to propel women leaders to achieve professional and personal success and deliver positive impact within their businesses and communities.

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