How Brigham & Women's Hospital Lives United

Brigham and Women’s Hospital is one of Harvard Medical School’s oldest teaching hospitals, treating patients since 1832. It is internationally famous for its patient care, biomedical research and commitment to training of medical professionals and researchers (milestones). In 1994, the Brigham joined with Massachusetts General Hospital to create Partners HealthCare. The Brigham is firmly committed to the mission of high quality patient care, education and research and service to the community.

The Brigham sees its role in promoting health as reaching beyond medical treatment to include addressing community conditions that can promote or threaten health.The Center for Community Health and Health Equity (CCHHE) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital serves as the coordinating department for community health programs and acts as a liaison for community-based organizations and the hospital. First established in 1991, as the Center for Perinatal and Family Health, the CCHHE expanded its focus beyond the needs of pregnant women and changed its name to the Office for Women, Family and Community Programs in 1997. In 2007, the focus expanded once again to explicitly encompass programs that address health disparities, and the name was consequently changed to the Center for Community Health and Health Equity. In addition to disparities in infant mortality, the Center’s programs address comprehensive care and support for women, those experiencing domestic violence and youth development.

Some examples of programs that have been designed in response to community needs are the Perinatal Case Manger Program, the Student Success Jobs Program for Boston Public High School students (recently profiled in the Boston Globe), and the Passageway Domestic Violence Intervention Program.These programs contribute directly to United Way’s goal of supporting families at risk in their efforts to nurture and care for their children.

One of United Way’s key strategies is the fostering of relationships between youth and caring adults, and this is a cornerstone of the Center’s work with young people.

The Center for Community Health and Health Equity has established an array of programs for young people that focus on success in school, awareness of careers in health-related fields and ongoing relationships with hospital staff who volunteer their time to share with youth. The Center is also in discussion with United Way’s Math, Science and Technology initiative to explore ways we can work together to help kids become engaged in the sciences.

The Brigham also inspires the generosity of its people. In addition to its volunteer programs, the hospital sponsors an annual employee giving campaign to support the work of United Way. Over the last three years the Brigham and its doctors, nurses and staff have contributed over $320,000.