The Health Foundation of Central Mass

69 2024 • Dennis M. Dimitri, MD, FAAFP Dr. Dennis M. Dimitri is the current chair of the Board, having joined the Board as a Director in 2017. He practiced Family Medicine in Worcester for over 40 years and is Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine and Community Health at UMass Chan Medical School. He previously served as President of the Massa- chusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Dimitri contributed to landmark healthcare legislation in Massachusetts that has been used in national healthcare reform. A Worcester native, he attended medical school at George Washington University and completed his residen- cy at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. "As a member of the UMass Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, I admired the work done by the Foundation impacting social determinants of health. at work created change at a community level that impacted the health outcomes of the patients I cared for on an individual level as a family physician. Aer having viewed these successes from the outside, I was honored to be asked to join the Foundation's board 7 years ago. Now having the view from the inside, I better understand why the Foundation has been so successful in its work. e rigorous process put in place to recruit, select, and evaluate the projects funded by the Foundation has resulted in national recognition of the Foundation's philanthropic methodology. is could not have happened without the dedication of the Foundation's staff and the members of the board and its com- mittees who give so generously of their time and expertise. I am fortunate to be chairing the board now at the time of the 25th anniversary of the Foundation's creation. What the Foundation can achieve today is built upon the hard work of staff and board members over those last 25 years, and I feel confident that the next 25 years will lead to more. It has been a privilege to serve." Chapter 6: Over the Years Leadership over the Years The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts has always prided itself on significant engagement with and input from the broader community through community member representation on committees, public convenings, and support of initiatives complementary to its mission. It has benefited from this approach which has surfaced important issues and funding opportunities for The Health Foundation to consider. At the same time, this approach runs the risk of pulling The Health Foundation in many different directions and diluting its impact by trying to address a multitude of issues and support the diverse nonprofit sector in Central Massachusetts. Therefore, it has been instrumental to have strong, committed leadership to provide strategic guidance to support the Board and staff in maximizing its impact on improving health in the region over the past twenty-five years. The Health Foundation's current and former Board chairs and chief executives are listed below. BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP

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