Family Medicine & Community Health celebrates 50th anniversary

The Department of Family Medicine & Community Health at UMass Chan Medical School is celebrating its 50th anniversary—and an impactful legacy in family medicine education and patient-centered primary care. Illuminating the milestone year is a new fund honoring the department’s former chair, Daniel H. Lasser, MD, MPH, which will boost efforts to train the next generation of family physicians and pursue innovations in medical education and practice.

The department was the first of its kind in New England and a founding department at the Medical School, with a massive educational footprint that has left an indelible mark on primary care in Massachusetts. Of the more than 2,500 active licensed family physicians in Massachusetts, one in five completed their medical education at UMass Chan, touching the lives of countless individuals and families throughout the commonwealth.

Rooted firmly in a commitment to equal health care access for all, the department’s founding faculty were innovators who recognized that individual patient care cannot be separated from the care of families and communities. Graduates are leaders in promoting health justice in the communities they serve, whether through direct patient care or spearheading systems change.

A 50th anniversary event held on March 15, UMass Family Medicine at 50: Staying Focused on Access, Equity and Justice, celebrated this extraordinary legacy. The State Senate and Massachusetts House of Representatives sent citations of congratulations on 50 years of confronting the complex challenges of health care delivery and community health.

In a recorded message, Gov. Maura Healey said, “Massachusetts is No. 1 in America for health care because we believe in comprehensive, continuous and compassionate care. That’s what medicine is about. You’ve instilled those values in the alumni of UMass Chan and your residency programs, and the licensed family doctors in our state that you have trained.”

A slideshow featured at the event commemorated 50 years of impact in photos and other remembrances.

Coinciding with the anniversary, the department has established the Daniel H. Lasser Family Medicine Education Innovation Fund to support opportunities for student and resident scholarships, and innovations in education and practice. Dr. Lasser served as chair of family medicine & community health for nearly three decades before retiring in 2019. During his tenure, he led innovative programs across the department’s education, clinical practice, community health and research missions.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Medical School, Dr. Lasser was awarded the 2012 Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

“You have had a sentinel influence on our school’s standing as one of the foremost primary care institutions in our nation,” remarked Chancellor Michael F. Collins at the time of the award. “Consistently, you have made a steadfast commitment to the care of the underserved and underinsured, raising a clarion call on behalf of our profession to serve the needs of the vulnerable in our society.”

“The Lasser Fund will continue Dr. Lasser’s legacy, serving as a catalyst to continually improve training and find solutions to better serve our patients and their communities, for rational transformation of the health care system, and for equal access for all,” said Diane McKee, MD, the UMass Memorial Ledwith Chair in Family and Community Medicine and chair and professor of family medicine & community health.

To date, more than $115,000 has been donated to the fund. To make a contribution, please contact Prescott Stewart, executive director of advancement, at prescott.stewart@umassmed.edu or 617-939-5771, or make a gift online.