Biography

Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Dennigan is a nurse, attorney, founder of Books Are Wings and helped to establish an inner-city wellness center. She is a thirteen-year veteran of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and held a seat on the Finance Committee. Throughout her career, Betsy has championed causes that are important to Rhode Island voters. A fierce advocate for clean government and separation of powers, she is the author of the current law that mandates the disclosure of all state consultant spending.

Betsy served as the Co-Chair of the Joint Economic Development Commission and the Income and Asset Building Commission. She has made job creation and job retraining, especially in the areas of new manufacturing and biotechnology jobs, priorities during these difficult economic times.

She is the author of the Green Buildings Act and recently brought environmental stakeholders and business interests together to discuss how they can work to benefit both businesses and the environment.

Betsy works as an emergency nurse and has a degree in Health Care Administration. She has a real understanding of the difficulties and frustrations that working families of Rhode Island face when confronted by a health crisis; She sees it first hand in the ER. She is a strong advocate for health care reform and supports a fiscally prudent public option. Her background and experience make her uniquely qualified to represent Rhode Island’s needs and to offer insight into the complex issues that will inform the health care debate. Washington needs Betsy’s voice.

Betsy and her twin brother were born on the Fort Stewart army base in Hinesville, Georgia where her father served in the army. When Betsy was just a few weeks old, she, her parents and her siblings moved back to her parents’ hometown of West Warwick, Rhode Island. Her father, Stephen Brunero, whose parents arrived at Ellis Island from a small town in Italy, worked as an attorney. Her mother, Betty Burns, whose parents had roots in County Cork, Ireland, worked as a kindergarten teacher.

Betsy grew up in West Warwick where she attended public school and where, at the age of thirteen, she held her first job, working as a Head Start aide. She graduated from West Warwick High School and went on to receive her R.N. from Rhode Island’s own St. Joseph School of Nursing. Dennigan also has a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Joseph College and a law degree from New England Law – Boston.

Betsy is married to Karl F. Machata, M.D. and is the proud mother of four daughters: Darcie of Providence, Sarah of Rumford, Heidi of Somerville, MA and Kyla, of Brooklyn, NY. She is also the proud grandmother of two grandsons and one granddaughter.

Betsy Cares About Our Community

• Founder, Books Are Wings, Inc.
• Established the Karla Harry Commission on Rhode Island Libraries
• Serves on the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Bio-Ethics Committee
• Stakeholder in the Cities Count Initiative
• Member of the District Court Bar and the Rhode Island Bar
• Professional Member:
  • National Association of Law Medicine and Ethics
  • American Health Law Association Fraud and Abuse Practice Group
  • American Nurses Association
• Board of Directors (former)
  • Common Cause of RI
  • Prevent Child Abuse RI
  • Newman YMCA and Greater Providence YMCA

Betsy Makes Us Proud – AWARDS

• Rhode Island Bar Association: Dorothy Lohmann Community Service Award
• Common Cause of Rhode Island: Special Recognition for Service on the Board
• Rhode Island Public Health Association: Public Health Advocate of the Year
• Children’s Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Inc. Heart/Courage/Brain Award
• Healthy Kids/Healthy Schools, Inc.: Special Recognition Award
• Chinese, Black and Hispanic Nurses’ Associations: Groundbreaking Legislation Award
• Covering Kids and Families, Inc.: Legislative Award
• American Cancer Society: House Legislative Award
• Million Mom’s of Rhode Island: Million Mom’s March Award
• Mental Health Association of Rhode Island: Legislator of the Year
• Community Planning Group: HIV Prevention Leadership Award
• Rhode Island State Nurses Association: Legislative Award
• Rhode Island Foster Parents Association: Award of Excellence
• E.P. Community Center: Yvonne Cabral Community Service Award
• Rhode Island Rehabilitation Association: Legislator of the Year
• Housing Network of Rhode Island – Friend of the Network Award
• Mental Health Association of Rhode Island – Bell of hope Award
• Rhode Island Public Health Association – John E. Fogarty Award for Leadership for founding the Public Health Think Tank