Staff Biographies

Katherine J. Atkinson, MD

Dr. Kate Atkinson received her medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1996. She completed a Family Practice Residency at UMass. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in California, having received her BSN at California State University in Los Angeles. She has worked in oncology, geriatrics and Hospice.

Dr. Atkinson is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Board Certified by the American Board of Family Physicians. She lives in Amherst with her husband Steve and 4 fabulous kids. In her free time she enjoys singing, napping and crossword puzzles.

Paul S. Baecher, MD

Paul Baecher grew up in Sea Cliff, Long Island. He attended Fordum College and Cornell Medical School. He completed his family practice residency at St. Margaret Memorial Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. He met his wife Cindy in Pittsburgh and he worked in a large family practice group until 1995. Next, he moved with his wife and four children to Amherst where he worked for Kaiser and then Valley Medical.

Paul loves any sport that his joints permit. He relaxes by gardening and cutting wood. He is a Giants fan but when his family is present he is an avid Steelers fan.

Kathleen H. Coulombe, MS, APRN-BC

Kathleen is an experienced Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of emergency and critical care, cardiology, and advanced practice nursing experience.

She is a third-generation graduate of the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Worcester, MA. She earned her BSN from Fitchburg State College, an MS in Nursing as a Critical Care Clinical Specialist from UMASS Graduate School of Nursing in Worcester and a Post-Master’s as a Nurse Practitioner, also from UMASS Worcester.

Most recently she has been working as an NP in Internal Medicine. You might also see her at Mary Lane Hospital where she works in the Emergency Department. Kathleen is Board-Certified as an NP by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center and is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

In her spare time, Kathleen is a call firefighter. She loves to read and is addicted to “Dancing with the Stars”. She’s been married to her husband Tom for nearly 30 years, has 3 children and an adorable 3-year old granddaughter.

Thomas Ptaszkiewicz, Office Manager

"Funny how things turn out--- who would think I would ever work in a medical office!"

I am lucky I had a second chance in life and love. I lost my wife to cancer in 2001 - My kids and I had a hard few years there. During that time I was hired as a receptionist by Dr. Kate and rose to the position of office manager the following year. On October 17th 2009, I was remarried to my beautiful new wife April who I adore. I now have 4 kids: 2 of my own and 2 step-children. It's a crazy life compared to what it was like before, but I wouldn't want it any other way (although perhaps a little quieter?!).

I have many interests. Family time is always good, but I also enjoy freshwater fishing, working with wood (anything from framing a wall to carving handmade pens or dragonflies to put over the exam room doors in the office - see my wares here), digital photography, and cooking. Of course there is nothing better than sitting around a table with family and friends sharing stories.

I never thought I would be working in the medical field since I hold a degree in Electronics Engineering, but I find it enjoyable and challenging. You never know what you're going to be faced with I like to know I make a difference by helping others.