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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
In December of 2020 I was given the incredible honor of leading our new, consolidated equity and community health efforts at MGH. It was a busy time, with a lot of uncertainty ahead, aside from the fact that we knew we would have a laser-like focus on COVID vaccination early in 2021. So much has happened this year, and while COVID has remained center-stage, we have assured equity in our efforts to address the pandemic—from our community doorsteps to the bedsides of MGH.
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2021 also gave us the opportunity to take stock of our incredible assets across the equity and community health portfolio at MGH. And, we have now fully aligned our work with Mass General Brigham's United Against Racism and the developing Mass General Brigham Precision Community Health framework. It has been an amazing year, and below are just a few of the many highlights.
We are excited about what 2022 will bring. Hopefully, we will finally emerge out of the pandemic, our equity and community health team at MGH will be organized for maximal impact, and we will contribute to—and be a key part of—a comprehensive system-wide equity and community health strategy and set of initiatives.
Before I end, I want to say loudly and clearly that none of what we do—and will do—could ever be accomplished if it were not for the incredible, passionate, dedicated, and committed MGH equity and community health team that I am so humbly, and proudly, fortunate enough to lead. The greatest responsibility of leadership in my view is to support the work we care about, and, most importantly, the people who do it. I am so thankful to be in this position—it is the blessing of my lifetime, and I simply cannot express my appreciation enough.
So, thanks to all who support and partner in our efforts, formally and informally. We will continue to build on our award-winning, nationally recognized work, and like every year, we will try to make 2022 our best.
Rest up, enjoy the holidays, and we look forward to connecting with you—hopefully in person—in the new year.
With warmest regards,
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Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH
Senior Vice President, Equity & Community Health
Massachusetts General Hospital
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Ensuring Equitable Access to Clinical Care |
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Sickle cell disease is a serious genetic blood disorder primarily impacting African Americans (but also Latinos of Caribbean ancestry as well as people of Middle Eastern or Indian Subcontinent descent), where a lack of access to quality health care coupled with issues associated with poverty—lack of nutritional food, stable housing, and steady employment—lead to poorer health outcomes.
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Due to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated health inequities, this year's report describes the response in serving the patients and communities most affected.
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Diversity, Recruitment & Support |
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This past year, our Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), historically supportive of physicians and scientists Underrepresented in Medicine (UiM), was significantly expanded to include the Patient Care Services and research workforce.
Other highlights:
CDI and the hospital were thrilled to announce that a record number (26%) of UiM applicants matched to the MGH and joint residency programs in 2021 - a significant increase over the previous high of 17%.
The MGH Underrepresented in Healthcare Recruitment and Retention Fund was established to support careers in community health and administrative leadership as part of the “Commit to Diversity and Equal Representation: Governance, Leadership, Clinical Care, Research, and Community Health” initiative. In 2021,12 new UiH faculty across 7 departments were recruited, retained, and/or supported through the fund.
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Celebrating Our Diverse Cultures ... |
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To honor our diverse cultures, we marked several important dates with hospital- and community-wide celebrations. Here are just a few: |
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Many events were held throughout the month of February to commemorate Black History Month, culminating in thematic programming during the week of Feb. 22-26. This year's theme was “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity."
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The Mass General community celebrated Juneteenth—also known as Black Emancipation Day—with a series of activities and programs at the hospital to commemorate this important holiday.
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The hospital celebrated Filipino-American History Month in October. Artwork and accompanying stories of Filipino artist Bren Bataclan were on display across from the stairwell at the Blum Center entrance. Staff were also invited to enjoy Filipino treats – and meet the artist – at the group’s table at the Blum Center stairwell.
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From September 15th through October 15th, during Latino/a/x Hispanic Heritage Month, Equity & Community Health honored the culture and contributions of our Latino/a/x colleagues and communities with a series of newsletters, activities, and events. Click here or on the video (above) for highlights of the LHHM month-long celebration.
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And Re-Imagining our Public Spaces |
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Equity and Community Health partnered with Daniel Chonde, MD, PhD, and the Peoples' HeART Project on a number of art installations at the hospital throughout the year to provide a more welcoming, inclusive environment for our patients, staff, and our communities.
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The People's HeART Project's Meg Carleton takes us on a tour of the Juneteenth and "This Is Me" exhibits in the lobby of the main hospital.
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The "People's Heart" by local artist ProBlak was unveiled at a ceremony in front of the Bulfinch Building on the main campus.
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In the Community:
Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
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Our Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) has long focused on the social determinants of health - food and housing insecurity, workforce development, access to care and other factors that have a significant impact on one's health. 2021 highlights include:
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Tackling Food Insecurity
Food insecurity - the lack of consistent access to the amount of food necessary to lead a healthy life - soared during the pandemic. Already a priority for CCHI, learn how the Revere CARES and Healthy Chelsea coalitions stepped up efforts - through food pantries, food distribution networks, and community gardens - when communities of color and immigrant communities were hardest hit.
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Confronting Issues of Race and Racism
Charlestown has a long and deep history of racial tension, and many of our Charlestown Coalition's Turn It Around youth group members are young people of color.
Following the death of George Floyd, the coalition began monthly community-wide “Race Dialogues” in partnership with Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards and co-led by the Turn It Around youth. In attendance are Boston Police officers, clinicians from the MGH Charlestown Health Center, community residents and guest speakers. Topics range from community policing to voting rights to restorative justice and more. More than 20 dialogues have been held to date, spurring open, frank and respectful discussions about sensitive, politically charged topics and empowering the TIA young people to become the community leaders of tomorrow.
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Commitment to the Health and Wellbeing of Youth |
COVID has worsened many concerns that predated the pandemic for youth. Young people are facing a mental health crisis after spending long periods of time isolated from their peers, having to adapt to virtual learning, dealing with stress brought on by racism and the ongoing struggle for social justice, not to mention a digital divide caused by inequities in internet and computer access. Amid this backdrop, our young people have demonstrated enormous resilience and are thriving.
Our MGH Youth Programs staff has found innovative ways to address the students’ emotional well-being, prioritizing discussions about mental health and wellness, as well as offering self-help strategies as key components of our annual Summer Jobs and other programming.
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Strengthening and Building New Partnerships in Boston and with Latino/a/x News Media |
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#YourHealthyJava
Equity & Community Health launched a new partnership with local broadcaster, Jimmy Hills, of the #JavaWithJimmy show.
Livestreamed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube every other Tuesday at 9 am, the #YourHealthyJava vlogcast is co-hosted by our own Claude Alabre, MD, and features clinicians and health professionals discussing important topics for the community - vaccines and boosters, mental health in the Black community, obesity, and more.
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Community Messenger & Mobile Efforts
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The community engagement mobile team travelled to more than 20 events in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan - including Juneteenth, Boston's Black Joy Day, the Annual Honk Fest in Nubian Square, and the Franklin Park Turkey Trot - reaching 2,000+ residents.
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El Mundo Boston held its annual Hispanic Heritage Breakfast (E&CH team above), and Joseph Betancourt, MD, was honored as a head table speaker with this video tribute.
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Gladys Pachas, MD (left) and Efren Flores, MD (right) appeared with Francis Concepcion (center) on the Univision program "Hablemos." View the entire Facebook live program here.
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Our Centers:
Tackling the toughest public health challenges
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Mass General Equity & Inclusion's merger with Community Health has expanded our "family" to include centers that focus on our most vexing public health problems. Some noteworthy events: |
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The MGH Center for Global Health gathered for a moment of silence to recognize continued global COVID-19 vaccine inequity because everyone, everywhere deserves vaccine access.
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More Highlights from 2021 ... |
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Cindy Diggs, community and cultural engagement manager for Mass General Equity & Community Health, was named the 2021 Peace MVP by the Mass Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, honoring her dedication to being an activist for peace and economic security in Boston neighborhoods.
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Joseph Betancourt, MD, appointed to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's COVID-19 Advisory Committee, along with other doctors, public health professionals and business leaders.
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With hopes for a brighter 2022! |
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Wishing our colleagues, our staff, our partners, and everyone in our communities a happy, safe and healthy New Year!
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“In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.” – Audre Lorde
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