Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | July 28, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 21 BY CONNIE ASKIN Special to WBJ I f there's one thing clear about Worcester, it's this: The Woo is a nonprofit town. Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to nonprofits, particularly those serving children and young adults. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass and Metrowest, the number of active matches plummeted to approximately 300 pairs of Bigs and Littles. It was a devastating blow that felt nearly impossible to recover from. Since then, we have worked tirelessly to rebuild Big Brothers Big Sisters to its former strength. Along with a refreshed strategic plan, we have sought to live our mission through programs strengthening mentoring and youth development, while evolving with the needs of our region. This community includes partnerships with Worcester's public schools and private colleges. We collaborate with The CASA Project, Nativity School and Girls Inc. For me, some of the most meaningful connections are made through various networks, like Investing in Girls Alliance, the USE Committee, and Mass Family Council. In my experience, this is not how most cities operate. We are fortunate to have such a high level of collaboration, as well as a strong United Way, community foundation, and chamber of commerce. Thanks to these friendships, Big Brothers Big Sisters is steadily climbing back from the pandemic- induced downturn. As of May 15, we reached our school-year goal of 650 children and young adults served, and we are just getting started. This progress has not gone unnoticed. We were honored to be named the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Nonprofit of the Year. The staff and board are incredibly grateful to be recognized with this award. We also see it as recognition of everyone who helped us get here, our community partners, Bigs and Littles, alumni, sponsors, and individual donors who amplify our work by sharing our stories online, attending our events, and donating to our cause. This award is more than a milestone. It is a celebration of Worcester's commitment to its youth and to the power of mentorship. It is a sign our city's nonprofit heart is stronger than ever. We are proud of how far we have come, and more excited than ever for what comes next. Connie Askin is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest. Unlocking the power of mentorship Challenges for the next chancellor D r. Michael Collins' 19-year tenure as chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School has been an unqualified suc- cess for the Worcester institution and the Central Massachusetts economy. See WBJ Staff Writer Mica Kanner-Mascolo's story "e end of an era" on page 12 for the details of Collins' impact, but let's run through the highlights: He secured the largest and third-largest donations in the history of the entire UMass system: $175 million in 2021 from e Morningside Foundation (result- ing in UMass Medical School being renamed UMass Chan Medical School) and $35 million in 2025 from the Paul J. DiMare Foundation. e school won its second-ever Nobel Prize in 2024. e $350-million, 350,000-square-foot research facility named aer DiMare was constructed and opened. Enrollment has steadily grown, as the medical school today takes in about 235 would-be doctors every year, as part of the 1,400 students who are pursuing degrees at UMass Chan. Aer nearly two decades at the helm, Collins has built a legacy that will last, and while at 70 he will step down from the big office, he will remain connected to the institution as a medical school instructor. But his successor will certainly face a rocky road. e most pressing issue at UMass Chan heading into the next academic year is the federal govern- ment's slashing of research funding, particularly from the National Institutes of Health. is year alone, the school is expected to run a $30-million deficit from these cuts and has already instituted layoffs and furloughs for about 200 employees. Col- lins has helped build UMass Chan into a world-class research institution known for addressing issues like neurodegenerative diseases and mRNA, but his successor will have to find new ways to keep their re- search funded and their brightest minds on the team with the federal government deprioritizing research aimed at curing disease. Beyond its research arm, the entire healthcare industry is facing a workforce crisis and needs all the doctors and nurses it can get. Worcester County is considered a health professional shortage area, as it has more than 3,500 patients for every one provid- er, according to the Cicero Institute. More doctors are specializing, meaning the share of primary care providers has dropped to 69% out of all Massachu- setts doctors, according to the Mass. Health Policy Commission. Despite efforts by UMass Chan and others to diversify the workforce, the overwhelming majority of physicians (74%) are white, creating additional barriers to care for underrepresented populations who prefer providers from similar cul- tural backgrounds. While Collins will remain in the chancellor position through July 1, former congressman Marty Meehan, president of the UMass system, is starting a national search – and perhaps an international one – to find Collins successor. ose will certainly be big shoes to fill. Connie Askin The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. W W

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