Mica Kanner-Mascolo

mkannermascolo@wbjournal.com

Mica Kanner-Mascolo covers health care and diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Worcester Business Journal. Her freelance writing has been featured in publications including FEMINIST, Byrdie, and Spare Change News. Mica is a graduate of The New School where she studied creative writing. An East Coast native, Mica currently resides in Central Massachusetts.

Covers: Health care and diversity, equity, and inclusion

Economy

Executive chef from Boston’s Top of the Hub restaurant to take over at Beechwood’s SONOMA

There’s a new chef in town, as SONOMA Restaurant has named Michael Chandler as the new executive chef of the restaurant in Worcester’s Beechwood Hotel.

Economy

Seven Hills hires executives from Springfield, Boston

Worcester-based Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates has hired two new executives into its C-suite, helping lead Central Massachusetts’ largest human services nonprofit.

Transportation

Worcester County gasoline prices down 16 cents in a month

In congruence with the statewide average, the price of gasoline in Worcester County decreased since Aug. 10.

Banking & Finance

Big Lots, with six Central Mass. locations, plans to close some stores amid bankruptcy

Ohio-based Big Lots has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Health Care

CHIA: MassHealth users spend higher percentage on behavioral health and primary care

As Massachusetts feels the lasting effects of postponed health care during the COVID pandemic, a new report shows members of the government MassHealth plans spent the highest percentage of their total healthcare spending on both behavioral health services and primary care visits compared to other commercial and government insurance plans.

Education

WPI debuts nation’s first explosion protection engineering master’s program

In an effort to help combat mounting concerns regarding manufacturing facility fire and explosion risks and close the gap between the manufacturing industry and academia, Worcester Polytechnic Institute has introduced the nation’s first master’s degree program in explosion protection engineering.

Education

First medical student cohort starts at UMass Chan’s newly launch Burlington campus

A year and a half after UMass Chan Medical School received official approval to open a Burlington regional campus, school is in session for the first cohort of 32 medical students at UMass Chan-Lahey, a partnership between the Worcester university and Lahey Hospital & Medical Center.

Banking & Finance