Board of Directors

Edward J. Khantzian, M.D., Chair
Corinne Broderick, M.S.
James D. Butterick, M.D.
John A. Fromson, M.D.
Mary Kraft, M.D.
Aaron M. Leavitt, M.D.
Glenn S. Pransky, M.D.
Michael Farrell, Treasurer

John A. Fromson, M.D.
Vice President of Professional Development, Massachusetts Medical Society
John A. Fromson is vice president for professional development of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He oversees its subsidiary, Physician Health Services, Inc., as well as the Society's medical education department. His primary clinical and research activities have centered on issues relating to physician health. He is a past president of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs and serves on the American Psychiatric Association's Committee on Physician Health, Illness and Impairment. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society's Committee on Physician Health and was the first director of Physician Health Services, the primary diversionary program for physicians with substance use disorders in Massachusetts.

Dr. Fromson is a member of the board of the Massachusetts Peer Review Organization (MassPRO) and the executive committee of the board of the Massachusetts Health Data Consortium. He is on the steering committee of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors and chairs its Restraint Consensus Group. He is also a trained facilitator of the Stanford Faculty Development Center's End-of-Life Care Program and serves on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts End-of-Life Commission.

A graduate of New York Medical College, he interned at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and completed a residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston. There he also served as a chief resident. Doctor Fromson is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry, child psychiatry, and has added qualifications in addiction psychiatry. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Doctor Fromson is a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine.

Luis T. Sanchez, M.D.
Director, Physician Health Services
Dr. Sanchez is responsible for the clinical requirements of the program. He establishes and maintains all clinical systems necessary for effective outreach, assessment, referral, monitoring, and supportive services for physicians and their families. He also maintains relations with external agencies such as the Board of Registration in Medicine. He also oversees quality improvement activities. Dr. Sanchez graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed his internship and residency in psychiatry at Cambridge Hospital. He has been involved with Physician Health Services since 1994 as a member of the Clinical Advisory Committee and as a treater of physicians.

Meet the Associate Directors of PHS

Physician Health Services works with five physician associate directors who function as independent contractors. They provide outreach, intervention, treatment referrals, clinical monitoring, and assessment for any physician, resident, or medical student referred to PHS. The success of PHS is based on the confidentiality protections that the program offers to physicians and the personal collegial support that is provided by the associate directors. The entire program is a partnership between the physicians who come to us with their health problems and the caregivers who guide them through treatment and recovery. Each associate director works within a defined geographic region of the state to establish relationships with hospitals and case monitors. They also organize support groups, lecture at local hospitals and health care organizations, and are available for crisis intervention. Their contributions to PHS have been invaluable.

Judith Eaton, M.D.
Worcester Region
Dr. Eaton is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry and by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Since 1981 she has had an active private practice in general psychiatry and often treats physicians and other health care professionals. She is also on the psychiatry staff at UMass-Memorial in Worcester, Massachusetts, and has been an associate director for PHS since its inception.

“The best part of this job is that it gives me the chance to work one-on-one with doctors who are in trouble and watch them change and recapture their lives. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this. PHS provides the structure for doctors who as a group have trouble asking for help. We can ensure that no doctor ever needs to go through major difficulties alone. The greatest benefit and support that PHS offers is the doctor-to-doctor connection that occurs.”
– Judy Eaton, M.D.

Wayne A. Gavryck, M.D.
Springfield West Region
Dr. Gavryck is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine as well as the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He currently practices internal medicine in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, and is the medical director of the Beacon Programs, the drug and alcohol treatment service at Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He has been an associate director for PHS since its inception. Dr. Gavryck is also a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO) and serves PHS in this capacity.

“PHS helps physicians recognize their own health problems, realize they are not alone, and find hope that they can be restored to health and practice. PHS has given me an opportunity to provide compassionate care to my peers in their time of greatest need and feelings of isolation. It has been a source of personal and professional stimulation and an experience that has deepened my understanding of the disease of addiction and of mental health in general.”
– Wayne Gavryck, M.D.

John R. Knight, M.D.
Boston-Central Region
Dr. Knight is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at Children’s Hospital in Boston. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and associate director for medical education in the Division on Addictions at Harvard.

"It is my privilege to work with physicians in the Greater Boston area and to serve students and trainees from some of the finest medical schools and teaching hospitals in the world. Being a physician does not make one immune to any mental or physical disorder, including alcohol and drug dependence. However, physicians may be more isolated and less likely to ask for help than others because of their professional status. Therefore, PHS is dedicated to the concept of physicians helping physicians. I have found that there is no greater thrill than watching the miraculous effect of recovery on a physician's life, family, and career."
– John Knight, M.D.

Michael S. Palmer, M.D.
North Shore Region
Dr. Palmer is board certified in internal medicine and practiced both internal medicine and emergency medicine. He is a clinical instructor in medicine at Tufts University and has been on the faculties of Harvard Medical School and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. He has been working in the area of physician health since 1982, and has been an associate director of PHS since its inception.

"Being part of Physician Health Services has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. Strengthened families and newfound insight and humility often make the docs we help that much more effective as physicians. Their good work then spreads like ripples on a pond."
– Michael Palmer, M.D.

Meet the Staff

Physician Health Services is proud to introduce a very professional, experienced, and dedicated staff. Our staff handles a diverse array of tasks required to keep the program developing and operating on a day-to-day basis while offering the best service and assistance possible to physicians.

Linda R. Bresnahan, M.S.
Director of Program Operations
Ms. Bresnahan is responsible for the daily operations of the PHS program. She establishes, manages, and supervises all administrative and operational activities of the PHS program. She oversees the information technology and procedures necessary to support the treatment plans and monitoring activities of participating physicians. She develops programs, events, and outreach activities to promote the services of PHS. Ms. Bresnahan received her bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston College with a concentration in management information systems. She received her master of science degree in health care management from Lesley College.

Debra A. Grossbaum, Esq.
Attorney
Attorney Grossbaum assists with all legal aspects of PHS, including issues of confidentiality, interpretation of relevant regulations and statutes, and assistance with PHS contracts. She reviews all participant contracts, negotiates vendor agreements, and works closely with the Board of Registration in Medicine. Ms. Grossbaum represents PHS with respect to corporate legal matters, as PHS is a 501(c)(3) subsidiary corporation of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Ms. Grossbaum is a graduate of Brown University and Boston University School of Law.

Jessica L. Vautour
Outreach and Education Manager
Ms. Vautour is responsible for the office management, supervision of administrative staff, and oversees training for all administative activities. She is responsible for managing and implementing all outreach and educational programs of the PHS program. She also designs and develops new and existing programs as necessary to support the educational and outreach needs of health care organizations and physicians. Ms. Vautour received her bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Bentley College and her masters in management degree from Cambridge College. She has an extensive background in health care and management and has been with the Massachusetts Medical Society for over ten years.

Kerry A. Fenton
Monitoring Services Assistant
The Monitoring Services Assistant coordinates all monitoring service activities and total quality management. This consists of primary support for the random drug testing program, which includes oversight of laboratory services and placing random test calls, while also reviewing lab results and tracking and maintaining reports of positive results and prescription medications. The monitoring services assistant also coordinates the quarterly report process to monitors for PHS participants under contract and for the Board of Registration in Medicine.

Brianne E. Wood
Client Services Assistant
Ms. Wood monitors and maintains all client activity data including intake data process, new contracts, monitor change, and all case transactions. Additionally, she is responsible for data collation and analysis for all PHS client activity and coordinates requests for information from third parties including compliance documentation and consent forms. Ms. Wood has her undergraduate degree in child and family studies from the University of New Hampshire.

Maryann E. Kenney
Secretary
Ms. Kenney provides reception and administrative support for PHS, which includes scheduling appointments, medical transcription, and directing outgoing and incoming correspondence. She also oversees the laboratory test billing process and assists with conference, the PHS library and special event planning. Ms Kenney has extensive background in health care as an administrative assistant.

Carol A. Camara
Part-time Secretary
Ms. Camara provides admini-strative support assistance to PHS in the areas of preparing correspondence, mailings, copying, collating, filing, and billing. She also maintains the PHS library and assists with special events. Ms. Camara has an extensive background in health care as an administrative assistant within the Massachusetts Medical Society and PHS for over ten years.

Deborah J. Brennan
Part-time Medical Transcriptionist
Ms. Brennan handles all of the medical transcription for PHS. She also assists with other projects and special events. Ms. Brennan has an extensive background in health care as an administrative assistant with the Massachusetts Medical Society and PHS for over ten years.