NAVIGATION

May Clinician Dr. Donaldson of the Fernandes Center for Children and Families Completes Leadership Southcoast Program

05/6/11

Deidre Donaldson, Ph.D., Director of Pediatric Psychology Services at May Institute, and Director of the Fernandes Center for Children and Families in Fall River, Mass., completed the Leadership Southcoast community program.

Each year, the program selects motivated individuals from the south coast of Massachusetts to take part in a ten-month program designed to hone their leadership skills. The goal of the program is to create a strong network of leaders that can better serve and cultivate the southeastern Massachusetts community.

As a representative of both May Institute and Saint Anne’s Hospital, Dr. Donaldson joined professionals from diverse fields such as healthcare, education, and government.

The course consisted of monthly sessions that included discussion groups, simulations, and other leadership development activities. During the program, Dr. Donaldson worked as part of a team developing a curriculum for the SMILES mentoring program. The SMILES program recruits volunteers from the community to serve as mentors for at-risk youth in the Fall River and New Bedford areas.

“This is a great opportunity for networking and building relationships for partnering in efforts to strengthen the region,” Dr. Donaldson noted.

The Fernandes Center for Children and Families is a joint partnership between May Institute and Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Mass. The Center provides family-centered pediatric specialty healthcare, rehabilitation, and behavioral health services.