BETHEL – The New England Society for Healthcare Communications has announced that Kristen Gallagher was awarded the inaugural Rosabelle M. Tifft student grant at the association’s annual meeting held in Westbrook, Conn.

The grant is named in honor of Rosabelle Tifft of Bethel, the first female president of the society. As part of the mission to foster a community of healthcare communications and public relations professionals, the grant was open to juniors or seniors studying in an accredited journalism, public relations or communications program at a college or university in the association’s conference-hosting state. The award will be given to a Vermont student in 2009.

Tifft served as president in 1974-1976. She resides in Bethel and is on the board of Western Mountains Senior College in Bethel.

Tifft was a charter member of the organization and went on to become president of the national American Society for Hospital Public Relations. She is also an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America.

The society has served as the region’s professional development organization for communication professionals working in the health care industry for four decades.

The society is composed of nearly 300 members throughout New England.