Brockton Resident Honored with WSHC 2020 President's Award

Melissa Leaston, who knew at an early age she wanted to become a nurse but had to overcome difficult circumstances to do so, has won the 2020 Whittier Street Health Center President’s Award. The honor, the result of a peer nomination process and organization-wide vote, was presented to Leaston at the Health Center’s fiscal year-end meeting on July 2.

Leaston joined the Whittier Street Health Center (WSHC) as a staff nurse 14-years ago, in that time rising through the ranks to become the Center’s Director of Nursing and Infection Control Officer.

“It is an absolute honor to win the President’s Award because my work at the Whittier Street Health Center means everything to me,” said Leaston, a Jamaica Plain native. “Every year, I have the opportunity to make an even greater impact in my community than the year before. What started out as a passion has become my way of life.”

Leaston has wanted to become a nurse since the age of ten, a vocation spurred by her appetite for books and science. A single mother, she worked two jobs while putting herself through nursing school, graduating on the Dean’s List and with High Honors. After she passed her board exam, Leaston began working at WSHC.

“It was important for me to utilize my skills to ameliorate health inequities and to address those disparities in my own community,” said Leaston, who recently re-married and lives in Brockton with her husband. “It is important for me to work with people that look like me and share similar cultural and life experiences as me. And for them to see me in a role that will hopefully inspire and encourage them to follow their dreams too.”

During her tenure at WSHC, Leaston has led by example while building an exceptional nursing team. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Leaston took on a leadership role.

"When many people were nervous about the deadly impact of the virus, Melissa stepped up to help with the implementation of the COVID-19 testing," said Frederica M. Williams, President and CEO of WSHC. "She trained all the nurses and became an even stronger leader, working with providers and the Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Team, to ensure we were following all regulatory standards."

"I have known Melissa for 14 years and have become quite impressed with her ongoing passion for our mission," added Williams. "When you look at the challenges she overcame to enter this career, it speaks to her resilience and drive. That translates to everything Melissa does here at Whittier. We are blessed to have her."

Leaston's award capped off its annual employee recognition event when the WSHC recognized other high-performing, impactful employees and teams:

BEST OF WHITTIER ANNUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS: FY 2020

President's Award
Melissa Leaston, RN, Director of Nursing and Infection Control Officer

Provider's Award
Dr. Stephen Wright, Associate Medical Director, Primary Care
Sophia Lucien, NP, Lead Nurse Practitioner

Community Relations Award
Robert Edwards, Community Relations Manager

Customer Service Awards
Alexis Roman, Patient Care Service Representative
Rubileysi Ramos, Patient Care Service Representative
Solanlly Guzman, Patient Care Service Representative
Eyrusalem Gebremariam Tesfatsion, Facilities Department

Department Award
Orange Team, Primary Care

Clinical Support Team Award
Nursing Team

ABOUT US
Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community health care center with a mission of providing high quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. A champion of equitable access to high quality, patient-focused care, social justice and economic equity, Whittier is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, Whittier serves nearly 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and Greater Boston. Approximately 36% of Whittier's patients are uninsured. Whittier provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. Learn more at www.wshc.org.