FEATURE

35th Anniversary Celebration of Baystate Medical Center's Affiliation with Tufts University School of Medicine

Mark Tolosky, President & CEO of Baystate Health, and Lawrence Bacow, President of Tufts University, Applaud Special Guests in Attendance

The 35 year affiliation between Tufts University School of Medicine and Baystate Medical Center has resulted in a mutually beneficial partnership that is greater than the sum of its parts. This theme resonated throughout the remarks of many of the speakers at the November 24 presentation, “Advancing Health Through Teaching and Research” that capped an afternoon of celebration.

Lawrence Bacow PhD, President, Tufts University, declared that the partnership brings enormous benefit to TUSM students and is one that Tufts University is immensely proud of. He noted that so many TUSM students come back to BMC as residents and then faculty, upholding a Tufts tradition of educating great physicians for Massachusetts.

The Dean of TUSM, Michael Rosenblatt MD, explained that BMC is a special place for TUSM students who come here for a full year of training because it is where they get their foundation in medicine and compassionate care, saying that many have said BMC is where "they first felt like they became physicians." Dr. Rosenblatt added that medical students have ranked BMC as the top teaching site year after year, and that the model relationship between TUSM and BMC has been emulated at a number of other TUSM teaching hospitals.

Current TUSM Student Gabriela Poles Describes Her Education at BMC

Hal Jenson MD, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at BMC, emphasized that the collaboration between TUSM and BMC makes each stronger than they are alone. He noted that between one third and one half of all residency graduates stay in the region.

Contributing a medical student perspective, TUSM MD/MPH Candidate Gabriela Poles spoke about her experiences at BMC, saying it “is worth the drive from Boston.” Ms. Poles feels that BMC’s environment emphasizes learning and collegiality, and that her education here has been exceptional.

Other speakers included Mark Tolosky, President & CEO, Baystate Health, Richard Neal, Congressman for the Second District of Massachusetts, Domenic Sarno, Mayor of Springfield, and Robert Emery Jr. MD, the first resident to do a surgery rotation at BMC.

In addition to the faculty, staff, residents and medical students attending the event were members of the Board of Trustees, John Davis, Chair, Baystate Health Foundation, Ethel Weinberg MD, BMC’s first Chief Academic Officer, and State Representatives Rosemary Sandlin and John Scibak.