SWAMPSCOTT — Dr. Peter Sheckman, a Swampscott resident, has been appointed chair of the Board of Directors for Bridgewell: a nonprofit social and human services organization serving northeastern Massachusetts. Jane Puffer, of Acton, was also made vice chair of the board.
Sheckman, who is now retired, practiced internal medicine and infectious disease for over four decades. His most recent position was at North Shore Physicians Group — which is now part of Mass General Brigham — where he served as a partner and medical director for 25 years. He was also the hospital epidemiologist of Lynn and Union Hospitals.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Yale University and received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine.
Aside from being on Project Cope’s Board of Directors, where he served as chair for two years, he was also on the Board of Directors of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, AllCare VNA and Resources, AllCare Hospice, and Explorers Lifelong Learning Institute.
Sheckman said that, as board chair of Project Cope, he supported the organization’s merger with Bridewell over a decade ago.
“What a revelation it has been for me to watch the growth and development of the organization through incredible leadership and mission-driven work,” he said. “It is with so much respect for the work and motivation of Bridgewell’s leadership team and the staff that I have wanted to stay involved all these years, and now, as board chair.”
Puffer provides marketing leadership to early-stage technology companies as president of Dreamaker Consulting Group. Prior to founding Dreamaker Consulting Group, she was the vice president of marketing of Integrated Development Enterprise Corporation.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Connecticut State University and received a master’s degree in administration, innovation, and technology from Boston University.
Earlier, over a decade-long tenure at Compaq Computer, which was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard, she held various marketing, management, and product development positions. She has worked with technology companies ranging from startups to Fortune 100 firms over her four-decade career in marketing.
She has served over 14 years on Bridgewell’s board and is also on the Leadership Board and the Trustee Advisory Board of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Groton Hill Music Center Board of Directors, and the Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound Board of Advisors.
Puffer said it was an honor to be elected as vice chair of the Bridgewell board.
“For many years I have been involved with the organization because of its mission to serve the community through empowering people with disabilities and other life challenges to live their best lives,” Puffer said.
Bridgewell President and CEO Chris Tuttle said that both Sheckman and Puffer have “contributed immeasurably to Bridgewell’s growth and stability since their appointments to the Board of Directors over a decade ago.”
“Their combined oversight and deep understanding of our organization and the needs of the individuals we serve will be invaluable as chair and vice chair,” Tuttle said.
Bridgewell is a nonprofit social and human service organization dedicated to strengthening communities. Headquartered in Peabody, Bridgewell empowers people with disabilities and other life challenges to live safe, self-directed, and productive lives.
The organization delivers support through community housing, day programs, outpatient treatment, recovery services, education, and employment training. Bridgewell’s staff of more than 1,200 professionals serves approximately 7,200 people and their families. Bridgewell is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and fully licensed by the state.
