Health care professionals: Names to Know

Mallory Lord appointed Executive Director of Benchmark at Rye Senior Assisted Living Community

RYE – Having had grandparents who each had a form of dementia, Newburyport’s Mallory Lord knows how difficult a dementia diagnosis can be for families.

As the new executive director of Benchmark at Rye, a Mind & Memory Care community, Lord brings a passion for helping residents, their families and her staff.

She replaces Nick Barash who was promoted to regional director of operations for Benchmark Senior Living for his outstanding values-driven operational leadership.

“I’m so excited to continue the excellent legacy that Nick and team have set forth,” said Lord. “Dementia is something that has greatly affected me and my family, so being able to positively impact the lives of our residents and their families in this way is deeply meaningful to me.”

Lord has over 15 years of property management experience. Most recently, she served as a regional property manager for New York-based Panco Management, overseeing six properties consisting of over 1,200 apartments. At Panco, she oversaw fundraising efforts for the entire Massachusetts region, raising thousands of dollars for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Cradles to Crayons. Before Panco, she served as a community manager for UDR, Inc., and assistant community manager for AvalonBay Communities.

She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s in elementary education from Lesley University.

“Mallory is incredibly passionate about the population we serve and throughout her career has proven herself to be an excellent operator,” said Rose Thomason, regional director of operations for Benchmark. “We are excited to have her usher in the future of our premier Seacoast community.”

Benchmark at Rye is an assisted living with memory care community offering carefully created living environments and unique opportunities for residents to find joy in each new day. Residents are supported by 24/7 care providers who have been hired for heart and educated in memory loss, communication, empathy and more. The community’s many neighborhoods offer the comforts of home and have unique features that help those with memory impairment stay connected to who and what matters most to them. Thoughtful touches, visual cues and purposeful amenities, such as on-site physical therapy, a beauty salon, light-filled sunrooms, an interactive outdoor water feature and raised garden beds provide familiarity and promote wellness.

For more information, visit BenchmarkAtRye.com.

Cornerstone VNA welcomes new Assistant Hospice Medical Director

ROCHESTER – Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit home health provider, welcomes Dr. Peter Saikali, MD, as the new Assistant Hospice Medical Director. Dr. Saikali brings a wealth of experience and expertise, further strengthening Cornerstone VNA’s commitment to providing exceptional Hospice Care and support to patients and their families.

In addition to his part-time Assistant Hospice Medical Director role at Cornerstone VNA, Dr. Saikali serves as the HCA/Envision Regional Medical Director and Hospitalist at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and is a Hospitalist for two other local HCA hospitals including Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH, and Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA.

Dr. Saikali's academic achievements include a Doctor of Medicine degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine and a Master's of Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts. Throughout his career, Dr. Saikali has demonstrated a strong commitment to clinical excellence, research, and patient-centered care, and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his dedication and impact in the field of medicine.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Saikali to Cornerstone VNA," said Julie Reynolds, RN, MS, President/CEO of Cornerstone VNA. "His experience and dedication to patient care align perfectly with our mission to provide compassionate and comprehensive hospice care. We are confident that Dr. Saikali will be an invaluable asset to our team and the community we serve."

In addition to his achievements, Dr. Saikali is actively involved in various committees, including the Utilization Review Committee and Credentialing Committee at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. He also participated in a 6-week learning and teaching experience at a hospital in Zimbabwe to learn more about global medicine.

According to Dr. Saikali, “I am very excited to join the team at Cornerstone VNA! With my expertise in internal medicine, coupled with my passion for hospice and palliation, I know Cornerstone VNA and I will do amazing things for our patients.” Dr. Saikali continues, “Ensuring that patients have dignity and compassionate care in their most vulnerable times is what drives my interest. I am sure that my appreciation for hospice care will only grow deeper over time with the concepts and tools that I learn from Cornerstone VNA. I’m looking forward to a fruitful future with this amazing team!”

Join Cornerstone VNA in welcoming Dr. Peter Saikali to their Hospice Care Team.