'Tremendous gratitude' inspires gift to UMass Chan
Tiffany Moore Simas, MD’00, R’04, chair of OB-GYN, and husband, Brett Simas, endow scholarship for medical students
Date Posted: Monday, October 06, 2025
A new scholarship from Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD’00, R’04, MPH, MEd, MHCM, and her husband Brett Simas, MBA, will ease the financial stress on aspiring physicians at UMass Chan Medical School, where Tiffany is the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology, chair and professor of obstetrics & gynecology, and professor of pediatrics, psychiatry & behavioral sciences, and population & quantitative health sciences.
The couple, who both grew up in Central Massachusetts and now live in Upton with their three children, say they are grateful for the Medical School’s enduring and profound impact on their lives, their extended family, and the broader community. Endowing a scholarship for medical students with demonstrated financial need is a fulfilling way to give back.
“UMass Chan has left an indelible mark on our family, and we feel tremendous gratitude,” said Brett.
“I attribute where I am professionally to UMass Chan,” said Tiffany. “I’ve been afforded opportunities at every step in my career as a student, resident, faculty and chair.”
A prolific physician-scientist, Tiffany has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications. Currently, her research centers on integrating obstetrics and mental health care, with an emphasis on health equity and addressing the alarming rates of devastating but preventable conditions affecting mothers, children and families across the United States.
“Historically, OB-GYNs were not trained in mental health,” said Tiffany. “We now recognize that mental health conditions are the leading pregnancy and postpartum complication, and the leading overall and preventable cause of maternal mortality. There are generations of OB-GYNs who need to gain competency in addressing the mental health needs of their patients.”
Tiffany points to the uniquely collaborative environment at UMass Chan, where she has been a faculty member since 2004, as one that facilitates impactful advancement in medicine.
“The institution is special in distinct ways that I always think of as ‘the C’s’—community, caring and compassionate people, collegiality and collaboration,” said Tiffany. “The focus on fostering relationships advances the science and, ultimately, the everyday care we give.”
The ‘right time’ to give back
"As a student, I was very worried about financing my medical education, and that was almost a deterrent to pursuing a degree. Nowadays, medical students are graduating with more than $200,000 of debt on average. To start your career with that much debt is a tough place to be and may preclude many from pursuing their calling.”
—Tiffany Moore Simas, MD’00, R’04, MPH, MEd, MHCM
The couple’s generosity comes at a challenging time for medicine. The nation urgently needs more physicians, while the cost of a medical degree continues to rise. As a first-generation college student from a family with modest means, Tiffany relates personally to the financial pressures of attending medical school.
“As a student, I was very worried about financing my medical education, and that was almost a deterrent to pursuing a degree,” said Tiffany. “Nowadays, medical students are graduating with more than $200,000 of debt on average. To start your career with that much debt is a tough place to be and may preclude many from pursuing their calling.”
“We also know not enough doctors are getting trained and there is still not enough diversity in the medical profession. With all the current challenges surrounding medical school and health care, it felt like the right time to commit to a scholarship.”
Despite those challenges, Tiffany remains hopeful about the future of medicine.
“If you review the application of almost any aspiring medical student, you’ll see so much passion, so much desire to make a difference and so much hope,” said Tiffany. “It’s important to create a system that captures, nurtures and sustains that feeling among the next generation of providers.”
For both Tiffany and Brett, the scholarship offers a meaningful way to support the next generation of health care leaders while expressing thanks to the Medical School.
“The scholarship is a profound way for us to acknowledge the journey we've been on, alongside Tiffany and the entire UMass Chan family,” said Brett. A generous match from Brett’s employer, Boston-based Fidelity Investments, is boosting the value of the scholarship.
“And we felt it was important to call it the Moore Simas Family Scholarship because nobody does this alone,” said Tiffany. “It's the support system, those around you, who make it possible.”