Catholic Charities Boston Welcomes Astride Barnard to Board of Trustees

Catholic Charities Boston is pleased to announce the appointment of Astride Barnard, MSN, RN, to the Board of Trustees. 

With nearly 25 years of experience in the healthcare field, Astride brings extensive leadership and professional expertise to enhance the mission of Catholic Charities. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Astride to Catholic Charities Boston’s Board,” said Kelley Tuthill, President and CEO. “Her deep expertise, proven leadership, and personal life experiences make her an invaluable addition to this agency as we continue to serve as a vital safety net and trusted partner for communities across Eastern Massachusetts.” 

Astride currently serves as an Infection Prevention Nurse at Boston Medical Center, where she leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of annual infection prevention goals and action plans in collaboration with the epidemiology doctors. In this role, Astride plays a critical part in improving clinical outcomes and streamlining healthcare processes, while also serving as a leader among staff. 

Astride previously served as an ICU nurse and played an instrumental role during the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for ill patients who were isolated from their loved ones due to hospital restrictions. Her colleagues described her as a strong and focused leader who applied her clinical expertise with unwavering compassion, offering hope and comfort to thousands of patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. 

Astride said Catholic Charities Boston’s mission to guide those most in need toward self-sufficiency strongly aligns with the values she strives to instill in her children every day and with her own life journey. Having immigrated with her siblings from Haiti at age 15, Astride understands firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new country without speaking the language or having access to a strong support system. She is thankful to her family, especially her late mother and brother, for their support on her educational journey, which she said played a significant role in her success. 

“I’m especially excited about the education component of Catholic Charities’ mission,” she said. “When I toured the Brockton site and saw the nurse assistant training classroom, I was amazed by the work being done. In healthcare, we frequently see nurse assistant graduates from Catholic Charities, and it’s because of the incredible programs and career pathways offered here.” 

Astride says she looks forward to supporting the expansion of Catholic Charities’ partnerships with healthcare organizations and continuing to build bridges within the community that will empower those living on the margins. 

“I’ve been thinking for a while: What more can I do to help vulnerable people in need, not just Haitian immigrants but people from all backgrounds?” Astride said. “Catholic Charities feels like the missing piece of the puzzle I was looking for.” 

To learn more about how you can support Catholic Charities Boston, visit our Ways to Give page.