Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | December 1, 2025 | wbjournal.com F O C U S H E A LT H C A R E Moses Dixon President & CEO Senior Connection, in Worcester Education: Ph.D. from Binghamton University, State University of New York; master's degree in medical science from Harvard Medical School; master's degree in community development and planning from Clark University; bachelor's degree from Howard University What are the best and worst aspects of working in health care? Health- care work is deeply rewarding when approached through a global health and social medicine lens. Delivering services with equity and dignity inspires purpose. However, systemic barriers, resource scarcity, and policy limitations can be disheartening. Still, the commitment to justice and improved outcomes contin- ues to drive meaningful work. Healthcare Nonprofit Leader of the Year Dixon listens to older adults to provide equitable support BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer M oses Dixon will never forget the night the Affordable Care Act was passed. As the late U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid was exiting the Senate floor, he turned to Dixon and said: "We did this for your grandmother and people like your grandmother around the country." While working for Reid as a college student, Dixon had told him about his grandmother, a woman who aer being diagnosed with cancer was denied health care because the disease was considered a preexisting condition. She died from cancer on anksgiving Day, when Dixon was 13 years old. In less than a decade, Dixon had gone from watching his grandmother pass to standing in the halls of U.S. Congress, telling her story. "at moment for me was when I knew I had an obligation, particularly with older adults, to make sure that they had access to not just essential services like food and Meals on Wheels, but they actually had the proper health care," said Dixon. Fast forward and today Dixon is lead- ing Senior Connection, as the Worcester nonprofit's president and CEO. Celebrating its 51-year anniversary this year, the organization works to break down barriers to care for older adults, like Dixon's grandmother, and provides a range of services in health, housing, disability, financing, and transportation. "People always say, 'Well, Massachu- setts has great health care.' at's true for some, but there's still an issue with access," said Dixon. Since taking over the helm of Senior Connection six years ago, Dixon has led the organization through a time of enormous revenue growth. Between 2009 and 2019, the nonprof- it's annual revenue had hovered around $2.8 million, ending 2019 with $2.87 million in revenue. By 2024, that figure had more than doubled to $5.74 million, according to nonprofit tracker GuideStar. While COVID stimulus funding has contributed to Senior Connection's revenue growth, Dixon has spearheaded programs not only bringing in revenue, but changing people's lives. Last year, the organization expanded its Grandparents Raising Grandkids Re- source Center, connecting wraparound services to grandparent caretakers, such as advocacy, legal aid, and food. In 2024, Senior Connection got $3 million from Congress to develop 40 affordable apartments in Worcester for grandparents raising their grandchildren. Dixon understands the wisdom and value in older adults that oen others don't see, said Brenda Jenkins, communi- PHOTO | COURTESY OF MOSES DIXON Moses Dixon (right) and a doctor at Senior Connection's Care Express Bus, which provides free health screenings

• Cover