Hebrew SeniorLife’s Tammy Retalic to be Honored with a McKnight’s Women of Distinction Award

BOSTON – Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of older adults, today announced Tammy Retalic, M.S., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services, has been inducted into the Hall of Honor in the McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards, a joint program of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living. The program, in its second year, recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the senior living and skilled nursing professions or who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fields.

“The dedication and commitment shown by our Hall of Honor recipients truly sets them apart,” said McKnight’s Editorial Director John O’Connor. Nominations were judged by an external panel of industry experts. All winners will be honored at a May 7 awards dinner in Chicago. An educational forum will follow on May 8.

About Tammy Retalic, M.S., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services 
Retalic manages a staff of 1,200 over a continuum of long-term chronic care and rehabilitation services on Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hebrew Rehabilitation Center campuses in Boston and Dedham. She joined HSL in 2003 with more than 25 years of operational and leadership experience in academic and community-based hospitals, post-acute care services, education, and training. She is the recipient of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association's Quality Compass Award, the 5-Star designation for skilled nursing facilities, and is a Senior Quality Leap Initiative top performer. She’s also earned the CareerSTAT Frontline Healthcare Worker Champion award and received more than $500,000 in workforce development initiative funds. Retalic is an accomplished speaker, and her expertise in the areas of clinical quality, employee engagement, workforce development, and leadership have been featured in many publications. 

Retalic received her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont and an M.S. in nursing from Boston College. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program.  She is a board member for the Organization of Nurse Leaders for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont, as well as an active member of the Senior Quality Leap Initiative, an international quality collaborative, and the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association's clinical information and advisory council.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Tammy for eight years,” said Mary Moscato, President, HSL Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “She stands apart because of her smarts, her ability to innovate, and above all, her compassion for people. Her accomplishments and leadership not only make her a valuable employee, but also she is the epitome of a Woman of Distinction. I’m proud to call her a colleague.” 

About Hebrew SeniorLife 
Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, is a national senior services leader dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. The Boston-based nonprofit, founded in 1903, provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. Visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook, or read our blog.