The Massachusetts Public Health Association will honor Thea James at their 17th Annual Spring Award Breakfast on June 7, 2019. James is being awarded for extraordinary commitment to bringing public health principles and partnerships to the practice of medicine. James is a pioneer in moving medical care to a whole-person approach which recognizes the impact of the social determinants of health in patient health outcomes. She was a driving force behind Boston Medical Center’s unprecedented investment of $6.5 million in affordable housing initiatives.
“Dr. James’ understanding of the social determinants of health and willingness to address them is an example for all medical and public health professionals. We are proud to be honoring her with this award,” said Carlene Pavlos, MPHA Executive Director. Presenting the award will be James’ wife, Reverend Irene Monroe.
James is vice president of Mission and Associate Chief Medical Officer at Boston Medical Center. She is an associate professor of Emergency Medicine and director of the Violence Intervention Advocacy Program at BMC. James is a founding member of the National Network of Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Advocacy Programs. In 2011 she was appointed to Attorney General Eric Holder’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence.
As vice president of mission, James works with caregivers throughout BMC. Additionally, she has primary responsibility for coordinating and maximizing BMC’s relationships and strategic alliances with a wide range of local, state and national organizations including community agencies, housing advocates and others that partner with BMC to meet the full spectrum of patient needs.
James served on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine 2009-2012, where she served as chair of the Licensing Committee. She is 2008 awardee of Boston Public Health Commission’s Mulligan Award for public service, and a 2012 recipient of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Role Model Award. She received The Boston Business Journal Healthcare Hero award in 2012 & 2015.
