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

Banking & Finance

Worcester rest home administrator indicted for allegedly stealing from facility and patients

An administrator at Donna Kay Rest Home in Worcester has been indicted on charges related to an alleged scheme to embezzle more than $220,000 from the rest home and its senior residents.

Banking & Finance

Greater Worcester gasoline prices drop again

Gasoline prices in the Greater Worcester metro area gas prices decreased again this week, along the Massachusetts average, although this downward current may not last for long.

Arts & Entertainment

🔒Providing a safe space: As anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment rises, local bar owners see their businesses as places of comfort and acceptance

Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is on the rise nationally. Despite being known as a leading state for LGBTQ+ rights, that sentiment has trickled down to Massachusetts.

Economy

🔒Keeping nurses in the field: Amid rising burnout, UMass Memorial’s first-year registered nurse program works to keep high retention rates

To help prepare new nurses for the reality of the profession and combat the growing problem of burnout, UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester offers its New Graduate Nurse Residency Program, which over the course of 12 months seeks to center education, community, and support for those entering the field.

Economy

Mass. unemployment rate increases for first time in three months

The Massachusetts unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point to 3.0% in May but still remained a full percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.0%.

Economy

Worcester human services nonprofit picks Dedham VP as next chief program officer

Worcester-based behavioral health and human services provider Open Sky Community Services has hired Emmanuel “Manny” Oppong as the nonprofit’s new executive vice president and chief program officer.

Banking & Finance

Cornerstone Bank to merge parent companies with Holyoke bank to form $6B entity

The parent companies of Cornerstone Bank of Worcester and PeoplesBank, headquartered in Holyoke, will merge to create a $6-billion organization with 29 branches across Central and Western Massachusetts.

Health Care

Boston Scientific to acquire stroke prevention device firm for $1B

Marlborough medical device manufacturing firm Boston Scientific looks to soon add stroke prevention treatment to its portfolio, as the manufacturer has entered into a $1.16 billion agreement to purchase California-based medical device company Silk Road Medical.

Banking & Finance

QCC receives $171K in state funding to boost healthcare training programs

Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester will now be able to upgrade to industry-standard lab equipment for its nursing assistant (CNA) certificate program and surgical technology associate degree program, as the institution has received $171,016 through the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program.

Economy