Partners Awards Scholarships to Two Charlestown Residents

Two Charlestown residents have been named as recipients of the 2011 Partners Health Care Merit Scholarship.

Catherine Taglilatela, a life-long resident who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire, was awarded a $3,500 scholarship.

Derek Bieringer, is working towards his associate's degree in Cardiac Sonography at Bunker Hill Community College and recently moved to the neighborhood. He was awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

The scholarships, which have been awarded for eight years, are the result of a collaboration between three Partners HealthCare affiliates -- MGH Institute of Health Professions, , and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

The two students received the scholarships during an August 11 event at the MGH Institute's Charlestown Navy Yard campus. MGH Institute President Janis Bellack, and Partners Continuing Care (parent of Spaulding) CEO David Storto, made the presentations. Sean Getchell, from Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty's office, presented the students with a citation from the state Legislature.

Taglilatela, a junior, has volunteered with several neighborhood organizations including Special Townies, Life Focus Center, Anthony’s Dream, the Charlestown Community Center, and Pop Warner Cheerleading and Football. She also has assisted handicapped students at the Harvard-Kent School.

She plans to become a certified athletic trainer and work and volunteer with multiple youth and high school teams in the hopes she can be a role model kids can look up to and follow. She wants to eventually pursue a doctor of physical therapy degree.

Bieringer currently works as a practice assistant for the radiology department at the Brigham & Women’s/Mass General Care Center in Foxboro. A native of Sharon, he has spent a great deal of time volunteering in health care facilities over the years, including Milton Hospital and Brigham & Women's.

Choosing to become a health care professional is the continuation or a family tradition, as he is the son of an assistant chief technician in radiology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. After his scheduled graduation from Bunker Hill next summer, Bieringer hopes to continue working in the Partners HealthCare system.