Fenway Health is among the 2025 recipients of the Massachusetts Health Council (MHC) Beacon for the Common Good Awards. MHC is a leading collective force in health advocacy, education, and policy in the state and the Beacon for the Common Good Awards pay tribute to outstanding leadership and significant contributions to advance public health and health equity.
“This recognition is a powerful testament to the dedication and compassion of our staff, the resilience of our patients, the strength of our partners, and the unwavering support of our community,” said Fenway Health CEO Jordina Shanks who will accept the award on behalf of the organization.
“For more than fifty years, Fenway Health has stood at the forefront of health equity, advocacy, and innovation locally, nationally, and globally. Our mission has always been to ensure that care is not only accessible but affirming—especially for those who have been marginalized. This award affirms that commitment and reminds us that the work we do truly makes a difference. To be recognized alongside other inspiring leaders and organizations affirms the importance of this work and strengthens our resolve to keep building a healthier and more just Commonwealth for everyone.”
This year’s Beacons for the Common Good honorees were nominated by MHC’s diverse member organizations and selected by the Executive Committee of MHC’s Board of Directors for their dedication to public health, which has made a lasting impact on our communities. The awards will be given at the annual “Honoring Beacons of the Common Good” celebration on Thursday, September 18.
Fenway Health is proud to share this recognition with an incredible group of 2025 honorees, including:
- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell
- Jessica Bartlett, Medical Reporter, Boston Globe
- Louis Brady, MBA, President & CEO, Family Health Center of Worcester
- Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD, Dean and Professor of Nutrition, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- Massachusetts Medical Society, to be accepted by Executive Vice President, Lois Dehls Cornell
“As MHC celebrates 105 years of impact, we applaud this year’s honorees for their unwavering leadership and commitment to safeguard and strengthen the health of all residents across every region of the Commonwealth,” said Angela Ortiz, Massachusetts Health Council CEO.
“From expanding and protecting sexual and reproductive rights, advancing health equity in underserved communities, reporting on the state of our health system, advocating to drive policy and systems change, and building our workforce development pipeline, we are proud to honor these change agents for their significant contributions towards access, equity, and safety across the state, especially our most vulnerable and underserved communities.”
You can purchase tickets for the Massachusetts Health Council Annual Awards online here.
Fenway Health provides and advocates for compassionate, equitable healthcare, research, and education rooted in the LGBTQIA+ community and racial justice. Since 1971, we have been working to empower people from all walks of life to live, love, and thrive freely. Learn more about our updated Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision, and Values on our website.
The Massachusetts Health Council was founded in 1920 to bring together the state’s top health leaders to more effectively address the state’s tuberculosis epidemic and other public health issues. Today, celebrating 105 years of impact, its mission continues to be to protect and improve the health of all residents in the Commonwealth, especially our most vulnerable and underserved communities. The MHC remains a leading convener of pressing and emerging public health issues with the goal of collective action and impact for the common good.