Find out how patient navigators improve cancer care at CHA

Finding a Way Through Cancer

There are many ways people respond when they find out they have cancer. One is concern for what comes next. When emotions are high, figuring out those next steps can be challenging. Thanks to a generous gift from the Davis Family Charitable Foundation, patients and families can worry less with support from patient navigators.

Patient navigators play an important role in helping families connect to services including financial support like help with groceries, housing, child-care and transportation. Navigators also help manage insurance and appointments, as well as connect people to valuable support groups.

CHA relies on patient navigators to keep track of people at risk and make sure they don’t fall through the cracks. They check in with patients and families through various milestones, ensuring people get the care they need at the right time. Removing the complexity of winding through the healthcare system offers patients relief during this difficult time.

We are extremely grateful for the support of the Davis Family Charitable Foundation and their generous commitment to ensure CHA patient navigators are able to support our patients and their families through their cancer journey.

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National Surgical Quality Award

Becoming an ACS Quality Partner means CHA is meeting the highest clinical standards developed by the world’s leading experts, signaling to our patients and the community our commitment to providing the highest quality surgical care for all.

Featured in the photo: Siva Vithiananthan, MD, chief of surgery, Mariya Tsaur, program manager for NSQIP quality, and Erika Fellinger, MD, general surgeon and cancer liaison, accepted the honor (pictured with Patricia Turner, MD, executive director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons).

CHA in the Community

Every month hundreds of families and individuals facing food insecurity receive free produce at CHA’s Revere Mobile Market. Through an innovative partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank and Point32 Health, fresh food items are delivered to the CHA Revere Care Center parking lot the first Saturday of every month. Dedicated volunteers prepare up to 500 bags for local people in need.

In the past 12 months, the Revere Mobile Market provided food totaling 155,605 pounds for our patients and community residents.

Food insecurity, impacting one in three individuals in Massachusetts, often leads to health issues. CHA recognized this growing need in our patients and hasn’t stopped giving out free food since the Mobile Market began over five years ago.

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This Year’s Gift – Overcoming Eviction and Abuse

Kim, a single mother of two young boys, migrated from Vietnam as a child. She never anticipated her current situation – being on the verge of homelessness and having to protect herself and her family from an abusive partner. She wasn’t sure who she could trust. After confiding in her CHA healthcare provider, Kim received the help she needed.

A donation to this year’s annual appeal will help fund the many programs Kim relied on to get back on her feet. This year's gifts are being amplified through the generous partnership of Cambridge Savings Bank, who will match gifts up to a total of $50,000. Together, we can ensure Equity and Excellence for Everyone, Every Time. If you haven’t given yet, please donate today.

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Deep Connections to CHA

Anne St. Goar, MD and Shippen Page have a deep and passionate connection to Cambridge Health Alliance, which started nearly fifty years ago.

“I first discovered CHA when I was a second year medical student at Harvard Medical School,” said a smiling Dr. Anne St. Goar. “The following year, I completed a month-long psychiatry rotation where I learned about all the tremendous work CHA does to serve its patients, many of whom face enormous mental health challenges on top of dealing with major issues like housing and food insecurity. That was 46 years ago. I became a devoted CHA supporter and haven’t stopped since.”

-- Anne St. Goar, MD, CHA Foundation board member and Cambridge resident

“In the seventies and eighties, I was very involved in child abuse prevention and intervention. CHA was on the forefront of these issues,” explained Mr. Page. “Back then, as it does today, CHA embodied social justice and medical excellence. Cambridge was changing with growing disparities and CHA stepped in to serve and advocate for the community’s marginalized populations.”

-- Shippen Page, longtime CHA supporter and Cambridge resident.

We are grateful for both Dr. St. Goar's and Mr. Page's partnership.You too can help CHA provide care to those in need. Learn more by reaching out to our Foundation team (see contact information below).

Send us an email to learn more

Contact Lauren Dorn for Sponsorship Opportunities

The Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation supports CHA's vision of equity and excellence for every one, every time and it's mission to improve the health of our local communities. With your help, CHA can continue this work - providing outstanding health care, pursuing social justice and mitigating the social determinants of health that cause health disparities.