MITSS History

April, 2002
Brainstorming Brunch – Linda Kenney convenes meeting with various stakeholders to discuss the idea of a new organization that supports patients, families, and clinicians impacted by adverse medical events. Dr. Rick van Pelt is in attendance.

June, 2002
Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS), Inc. is incorporated in the state of Massachusetts.

September thru December, 2002
Initial Board of Directors assembled.

November, 2002
MITSS holds its First Annual Dinner and Fundraiser at Kevlyn’s Restaurant, owned and operated by Kevin and Linda Kenney. Fundraiser attended by friends, family, and well wishers. Dr. van Pelt, the sole member of the medical community, and his wife, Frances, also attend.

January, 2003
First MITSS Board of Directors meeting held in Easton, Massachusetts.

Spring of 2003
MITSS joins the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors.

June 11, 2003
Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, Massachusetts, publishes feature article on MITSS. Press coverage of new organization begins.

Fall of 2003
First patient and family educational support group held in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Brigham and Women’s Hospital donates space for the group to be held.

May, 2004
Linda Kenney and Rick van Pelt present at National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) Annual Congress in Boston, Massachusetts. Congress presentation well received by local as well as national medical community, putting MITSS “on the map.” The MITSS Story becomes much sought after presentation for local, national, and international forums. MITSS Story also picked up more and more by national media. Press coverage includes Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Oprah Magazine.

May, 2004
Second patient and family educational support group begins.

March, 2005
Linda Kenney accepted to prestigious HRET/AHA Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship.

Spring of 2005
First MITSS support group for nursing professionals begins.

2005 to 2006
MITSS Board of Directors continues to grow with distinguished members of the medical and business communities coming on board.

August, 2005
Brigham and Women’s Hospital donates office space to MITSS in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

November, 2005
Linda Kenney receives Bank of America Local Heroes Award in recognition of MITSS’s outstanding contributions to the community.

May, 2006
MITSS receives NPSF Socius Award at Annual Congress in San Francisco, California, in recognition of effectiveness in partnering with healthcare organizations in pursuit of improved patient safety.

May, 2006
The “MITSS Story” DVD underwritten by Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital is released. In state distribution funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

July, 2006
South Shore Hospital of Weymouth provides second site for MITSS patient and family support groups to meet. South Shore group convenes.

July, 2006
Linda Kenney graduates from HRET/AHA Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship in San Francisco.

August, 2006
Office space for MITSS is expanded through the generosity of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Two practicum students from local universities join MITSS staff.

November, 2006
MITSS holds its Fifth Annual Dinner and Fundraiser. The event is well attended by distinguished members of the healthcare community, patients and family members, frontline caregivers, and business and community leaders, all coming together to celebrate and support the MITSS mission.




			MITSS HISTORY April, 2002 Brainstorming Brunch – Linda Kenney convenes meeting with various stakeholders to discuss the idea of a new organization that supports patients, families, and clinicians impacted by adverse medical events. Dr. Rick van Pelt is in attendance. June, 2002 Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS), Inc. is incorporated in the state of Massachusetts. September thru December, 2002 Initial Board of Directors assembled. November, 2002 MITSS holds its First Annual Dinner and Fundraiser at Kevlyn’s Restaurant, owned and operated by Kevin and Linda Kenney. Fundraiser attended by friends, family, and well wishers. Dr. van Pelt, the sole member of the medical community, and his wife, Frances, also attend. January, 2003 First MITSS Board of Directors meeting held in Easton, Massachusetts. Spring of 2003 MITSS joins the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors. June 11, 2003 Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, Massachusetts, publishes feature article on MITSS. Press coverage of new organization begins. Fall of 2003 First patient and family educational support group held in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Brigham and Women’s Hospital donates space for the group to be held. May, 2004 Linda Kenney and Rick van Pelt present at National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) Annual Congress in Boston, Massachusetts. Congress presentation well received by local as well as national medical community, putting MITSS “on the map.” The MITSS Story becomes much sought after presentation for local, national, and international forums. MITSS Story also picked up more and more by national media. Press coverage includes Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Oprah Magazine. May, 2004 Second patient and family educational support group begins. March, 2005 Linda Kenney accepted to prestigious HRET/AHA Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. Spring of 2005 First MITSS support group for nursing professionals begins. 2005 to 2006 MITSS Board of Directors continues to grow with distinguished members of the medical and business communities coming on board. August, 2005 Brigham and Women’s Hospital donates office space to MITSS in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. November, 2005 Linda Kenney receives Bank of America Local Heroes Award in recognition of MITSS’s outstanding contributions to the community. May, 2006 MITSS receives NPSF Socius Award at Annual Congress in San Francisco, California, in recognition of effectiveness in partnering with healthcare organizations in pursuit of improved patient safety. May, 2006 The “MITSS Story” DVD underwritten by Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital is released. In state distribution funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts. July, 2006 South Shore Hospital of Weymouth provides second site for MITSS patient and family support groups to meet. South Shore group convenes. July, 2006 Linda Kenney graduates from HRET/AHA Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship in San Francisco. August, 2006 Office space for MITSS is expanded through the generosity of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Two practicum students from local universities join MITSS staff. November, 2006 MITSS holds its Fifth Annual Dinner and Fundraiser. The event is well attended by distinguished members of the healthcare community, patients and family members, frontline caregivers, and business and community leaders, all coming together to celebrate and support the MITSS mission.