Boston Medical Center (BMC)

Did you know that BMC has honeybees buzzing atop our two rooftop farms? They pollinate crops—like vegetables, herbs, beans, and more—within our nearly 8,000 square feet of growing space. Our bees also provide honey. You can support BMC programs like our rooftop farms and more. “Adopt a bee” with a gift of any amount to BMC: https://bit.ly/4g3f0bQ

"Many of our patients are living in what we call food deserts, places where there is not a lot of access to healthy, fresh foods. That can lead to chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity. Access to healthy, fresh food is hugely impactful on our patients." -BMC's Anna Goldman, MD, MPH At BMC, we know healthcare extends far beyond the four walls of a hospital. This past year, we opened a second rooftop farm, our Newmarket Farm, as proof of our commitment to leading the food-is-medicine movement. Learn more on NBC News Boston: https://lnkd.in/gfMDYTSj

September is National Sickle Cell Month! Founded in 1972, BMC's Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease is the largest of its kind in New England. It is also the only center in the region to offer both FDA-approved gene therapies for sickle cell disease. Currently serving more than 600 patients annually, our multidisciplinary team provides patients with highly personalized care, building a lifelong relationship of trust with each patient. For more information on BMC's Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease, visit https://bit.ly/3MtADV9.

Join us on September 12 at our annual EQTY summit to explore actionable solutions to advance racial health justice.    We are thrilled to be joined by equity champions including Stephanie Mitchell, DNP, CNM, CPM, Founder of The Birth Sanctuary, Fabio Petrocca, MD, Director of CAR T-cell Therapy at Boston Medical Center, and Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH, Chief Community Health and Health Equity Officer at Mass General Brigham and Executive Director of the Kraft Center for Community Health at Massachusetts General Hospital.    Tickets are going fast! Register for now to save your seat: https://lnkd.in/eJrnrJ8F

“Communities were able to speak with a united voice to effect change. It’s much harder to ignore a coalition that’s coming with data than it is to ignore a single person.” -Jeffrey Samet, MD, MPH, BMC primary care physician BMC led Massachusetts in the NIH's HEALing Communities Study, and the unprecedented community collaboration was key to helping people with opioid use disorder access effective treatment. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3AI1MB5

As a traveling “baby nurse,” Cherryl could be found caring for babies across the country, and as far away as Paris. She loved the work that she did for more than 20 years. As someone living with diabetes, she knew she should take better care of her health, but she was always on the go. In 2022, Cherryl couldn’t ignore the symptoms she was having. She says, “It beat me. My health started to decline, and I began to lose weight dramatically.” Her nephrologist referred her to BMC, and during an appointment that summer, testing revealed why she felt so weak. She was in kidney failure and needed a transplant. Cherryl’s son Darren stepped forward to see if he was a match, and he was! Donors undergo a comprehensive evaluation and detailed testing before the surgery is scheduled, so Cherryl had dialysis three times a week until her surgery took place. On December 14, 2022, mother and son underwent surgery at BMC. Dr. Jeffrey Cooper performed Cherryl’s surgery and Dr. David Wang performed Darren’s surgery. Cherryl says, “It was a great blessing. My son never looked back. He said, ‘Mom, don’t worry—I’ve got you! You gave me life, so I’m returning it to you.’” Darren, who works as a welder, says he feels completely fine and does everything he did prior to the surgery, including going to the gym regularly. Because Darren’s job is physically demanding and involves heavy lifting, he followed the doctors’ recommendations and took seven weeks off from work after donating his kidney. The length of time off work depends on the type of job the donor has and how they feel. “The hospital team was phenomenal and on top of everything,” says Cherryl. “They had a way of making me feel very comfortable. Dr. Cooper is an amazing human being, and he’s funny! I’m glad my doctor sent me to BMC.” She adds, “I feel very lucky that I didn’t have to have dialysis for years. I have a new lease on life, and I plan to use it in a positive way.” Darren’s only reminder of the surgery is a small scar. His advice to anyone thinking about donating a kidney is “Go for it! Don’t be afraid of the surgery. You could save a life.” Learn more about BMC's transplant program: https://bit.ly/3z3nEpV #MinorityDonorAwarenessMonth

BMC’s Director of Emergency Medicine Infectious Disease Management, Elissa Perkins, MD, MPH, DTMH, and a team of researchers developed a system in the emergency department that automatically adds a hepatitis C test when providers order other blood tests for patients meeting hepatitis C screening criteria. “We hope that by expanding access to early detection of hepatitis C virus, BMC can bridge gaps in health equity and ensure that all individuals can achieve better health outcomes and lead healthier lives.” Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dGYpst

Dr. Bindu Setty is a radiologist at BMC and is a part of Boston University Medical Group’s Clinical Excellence Society. She is focused on improving health and well-being through excellence, innovation, and equity in patient-centered care, education, and research. Our Department of Radiology offers every patient access to advanced medical imaging in a compassionate setting. Our goal is to help each patient by using state-of-the-art technology to provide the best images possible and deliver accurate reports to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment. See how our Radiology Department is #RewritingHealthcare: https://bit.ly/3LFgYRE

Yesterday, BMC's Stephen Murray, MPH, NRP, harm reduction program manager, was invited to the White House on behalf of the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE) and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). He participated in a roundtable discussion in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, which brought together federal and community partners to discuss how we can work together to address the overdose epidemic. Stephen shared his experience leading the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline, which provides 24/7 harm reduction services to prevent fatal overdoses, as well as the work done at BMC's Grayken Center for Addiction. Learn more about how BMC offers support to those with substance use disorder: https://bit.ly/4g5MOVx.

BMC and our Breastfeeding Equity Center celebrate the impact of a multi-disciplinary and coordinated approach to caring for breastfeeding families. From our inpatient lactation team to Curbside Care, family medicine to obstetrics, pediatrics to breastfeeding medicine, to teams across the hospital including anesthesia and many other clinical touch points, recognizing and honoring the unique needs of both a breastfeeding baby and a lactating parent requires everyone to work together. In closing out Breastfeeding Awareness Month and in elevating this Black Breastfeeding Week, the Breastfeeding Equity Center maintains its commitment to providing a space for collaboration and unity so that we can continue to provide the best care available to all of our new families while bridging the gaps in equitable access to top evidence-based care and comprehensive support. Learn more about BMC's Breastfeeding Equity Center: https://bit.ly/3AJuJfN