Hebrew SeniorLife’s Tammy Retalic Receives Organization of Nurse Leaders Award

BOSTON – Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife, 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, is the Organization of Nurse Leaders’ 2021 recipient of the Elaine K. Sherwood Service Award. The prestigious award, given annually since 1993, recognizes leaders who exemplify outstanding commitment and contribution to the work of the Organization of Nurse Leaders, a nonprofit, professional membership organization for current and aspiring nurse leaders. 

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Tammy for almost a decade,” said Mary Moscato, President, Hebrew SeniorLife Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “She stands apart for her smart thinking and ability to innovate, and this was especially clear during the pandemic. Dedication, compassion, and caring leadership make Tammy the epitome of a nurse leader. I’m proud to call her a colleague and so pleased that the Organization of Nurse Leaders chose to recognize her in this way.” 

Retalic was nominated by Patricia M. Noga, Ph.D., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., F.A.A.N, Vice President, Clinical Affairs at the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. Noga’s nomination recognized Retalic’s work to “broaden our perspective of post-acute care and the experiences of post-acute care leaders and residents as they participate in this important component of the care continuum.” 

“This became even more evident during Tammy’s excellent service on the 2019-2020 Organization of Nurse Leaders Board,” said Noga. “She was consistently engaged, enthusiastic, and full of bold, new ideas to drive the profession and organization forward. She was willing to forge ahead and pilot new approaches. Her leadership, openness to experimentation, and ability to connect with and mentor others have been great assets to the growth of our organization and to the advancement of the nursing profession.”

About Tammy Retalic 
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 the organization 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 & Hospital Association's Quality Compass Award, the 5-Star designation for skilled nursing facilities, and is a Senior Quality Leap Initiative top performer. She has 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 member of 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 & Hospital Association's clinical information and advisory council.

About the Organization of Nurse Leaders
The membership of the Organization of Nurse Leaders is comprised of more than 1,100 nurses from across five New England states. Organization of Nurse Leaders’ members lead more than 275,000 licensed nurses who care for 1.3 million patients per year in hospitals alone. Members also care for tens of thousands of patients in other care settings. The organization’s mission is to advance a culture of health through excellence in nursing and the organization works in full collaboration with local and national professional health care organizations to promote excellence in nursing leadership, and by extension, high-quality and high-value patient care.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Based in Boston, the nonprofit organization has provided communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers since 1903.

Hebrew SeniorLife offers many opportunities for nurses to advance their careers through professional development, tuition assistance, scholarships, and leadership opportunities. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.