“There's not many people like Erik,” said Justin Precourt, president of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. “He works day and night, tirelessly, to help meet the needs of the underserved and the Worcester community.”

The entire sector is facing multiple crises right now (workforce shortages, hospital closures, insurance reimbursement shortfalls, vaccine skepticism, etc.), but it is populated by people who represent the best of us. In the below profiles, you’ll read about how this year’s 12 award winners are making the world a better place as physicians, a dentist, nurses, support staff, and administration. In a world of chaos and uncertainty, they are an inspiration.

While consumers make a dash for doorbuster deals this Black Friday, David Filar will be running to raise funds for UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center’s Child Life program.Filar, who has lived in Worcester for the last nine years, is embarking on a four-day, 154-mile run across Massachusetts in an effort to raise $15,000 to purchase safe, developmental toys for young hospital patients during the holiday season.

Medical experts are stressing that members of the public should be up to date on their vaccines as Massachusetts, including the Worcester area, sees a significant spike in two respiratory illnesses. 

One is pertussis, also called whooping cough, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reports a fivefold increase statewide in the number of confirmed cases, with 754 so far this year, compared to 115 in the same period last year.

Includes UMass Memorial Health Cancer Center in a list of 100 hospital and health systems with great oncology programs. 

Benjamin Hamar, MD, Director of the Maternity Center at UMass Memorial and a member of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, discuss the new hospital-at-home program for postpartum patients.

Justin Precourt, interim president of Worcester’s UMass Memorial Medical Center, has officially shed his provisional title, assuming his role as president of the largest hospital in Central Massachusetts. 

Worcester, MA — UMass Memorial Health’s Craniofacial Clinic at Children’s Medical Center is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. This first-of-its-kind collaboration will significantly enhance access to critical craniofacial care for pediatric patients, with a special focus on underserved communities.

A highly contagious respiratory illness is on the rise in Massachusetts. Cases of whooping cough are surging to pre-pandemic levels.

Pertussis is commonly known as whooping cough because of the sound patients make when they cough.