Massachusetts Medical Society: MMS Staff Directory

MMS Staff Directory

Welcome to the Massachusetts Medical Society. Below, please find a description of and contact information for the various departments within the organization.

For more assistance:

Executive Vice President
Lois Dehls Cornell – View Bio

Senior Leadership Team

  • General Counsel/Vice President, Advocacy & Member Relations
    Charles Alagero - (781) 434-7001
  • Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
    Theresa Sciarappa - (781) 434-7235
  • Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
    Paul Shannon - (781) 434-7266
  • Vice President, Chief Publishing Officer, NEJM Group
    David Sampson - (781) 434-7014
  • Vice President/Chief Digital Officer
    Rob Stuart - (781) 434-7459

Executive Office and Governance

The MMS Executive Office and Governance Department oversees the administration and management of the Massachusetts Medical Society and supports the organization’s leadership, including presidential officers and executive vice president. The department also oversees the Medical Society’s governance structure, organizing House of Delegates Annual and Interim Meetings and managing MMS committees, task forces and sections. To learn more about MMS governance, please click here.

  • Executive Assistant to EVP
    Deborah Fagan - (781) 434-7012
  • Director, Executive Office, Board & AMA Relations
    Michele Jussaume - (781) 434-7205
  • Manager, Executive Governance Office
    Karen Harrison - (781) 434-7463
  • Senior Governance Policy Administration Manager
    Annemarie Tucker - (781) 434-7332

Advocacy, Government, and Community Relations

The Department of Advocacy, Government, and Community Relations advocates on behalf of patients and physicians at the local, state, and federal levels. Department staff assist with the development of MMS policies and respond to legislation and regulations that impact MMS member physicians and affect their ability to provide care to their patients. Department staff, as well as MMS physician advocates, are trusted sources for decision-makers in both Massachusetts and Washington. In addition, the department engages the MMS in patient-centered community relations programs. The department also conducts health care research and analytics used to formulate the Society’s positions on health care policy and practice issues, to inform member engagement and development efforts, and to direct the Society’s health care research strategies and activities. Learn more about MMS advocacy and key issues here.

  • Director, Advocacy & Government Relations
    Leda Anderson - (781) 516-2489
  • Federal Relations & Health Equity Manager
    Casey Rojas - (781) 434-7082
  • Government Relations Advisor
    Jessie Brunelle - (781) 422-8887
  • Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Counsel
    Jeff Perkins - (781) 757-5085
  • Advocacy & Government Relations Administrator
    Lori DiChiara - (781) 434-7215

Communications

The Department of Communications manages the Medical Society’s primary communications to members, as well as to the public. The Department produces the monthly membership magazine, Vital Signs, the free weekly e-newsletter, Vital Signs This Week, and distributes the Monday through Friday morning news alert, MMS MediaWatch. The Communications team also oversees all media relations, social media, and medical library services for members.

Sign up to receive MMS newsletters here; Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

  • Director of Communications
    Katherine Udden - (781) 434-7097
  • Media Relations Manager
    Thomas Flanagan - (781) 434-7101
  • Digital Media Manager & Health Information Technology
    Leon Barzin - (781) 434-7048
  • Senior Editor & Writer, Communications
    Sandra Jacobs - (617) 905-2945
  • Digital Engagement Specialist & Webmaster
    Carl Setterlund - (781) 434-7318

Health Policy, Public Health, AMR Planning & Education

The Department of Health Policy, Public Health, AMR Planning & Education oversees efforts in advocacy and education on a range of topics impacting patients in the Commonwealth and across the country, including social determinants of health, racial and ethnic health disparities, opioid use and misuse, immunization, COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease, tobacco products including e-cigarettes and other vape products, preparedness, obesity, violence intervention and prevention, and medical and recreational cannabis. The department organizes the Medical Society’s annual Public Health Leadership Forum, which highlights emerging issues impacting public health. To learn more about public health topics and clinical resources, click here.

  • Executive Director, Health Policy, Public Health, AMR Planning & Education
    Susan Webb - (781) 434-7374
  • Senior Public Health Outreach Manager
    Candace Savage - (781) 434-7017
  • Senior Coordinator, Health Policy, Public Health, AMR Planning & Education
    Jill Cricones - (781) 434-7372
  • Director, Charitable Foundation
    Jennifer Day - (781) 434-7044

Member Engagement and Development

The MMS is the statewide professional association for physicians and medical students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; it is the oldest continually operating state medical society in the United States. The Department of Member Engagement and Development oversees the processing and benefits of membership for our more than 25,000 members. Learn more about joining the MMS by clicking here.

To call the MMS to begin the membership application process, please dial (800) 322-2303, x7311.

To join the MMS online, click here to create an account or apply for membership.

To join the MMS by fax or by mail, click here to download an application.

  • Executive Director, Member Engagement, Communications & Association Management
    Bill Howland - (781) 434-7877
  • Director, Membership Development & Marketing
    Laurel Doggett - (781) 434-7308
  • Director, Member and AMA Early Career Section Relations
    Colleen A. Hennessey - (781) 434-7315
  • Senior Member Relations Administrator
    Erin Tally - (781) 434-7413
  • Member Program & Marketing Specialist
    Chew-Hoong Koh - (781) 434-7312
  • Membership Services Specialist
    Lisa Smith - (781) 434-7759

Regional Outreach & Association Management

  • Director, Regional Outreach & Association Management
    Lynda D. Layer - (781) 434-7317
  • MMS Meetings & Services Project Manager
    Lacy Heffel - (781) 434-7573

Specialty Management Services (SMS)
Under the auspices of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), SMS provides cost-effective management and administrative assistance to specialty societies and other medical organizations. SMS consists of a dedicated team of association management professionals who are committed to each client organization’s goals, values, and success. Click here for more information and a list of current clients.

  • Manager, Association Management Services
    Miguel Ocque - (781) 434-7314
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Deborah J. Brennan - (781) 434-7518
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Tricia Kennedy - (781) 434-7010
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Jennifer Martin
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Katy Monaco - (781) 434-7329
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Mayuri Patel - (781) 434-7519
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Gayle Sommer - (781) 434-7731
  • Association Services and Events Manager
    Lina Szymkowski - (781) 434-7313
  • Association Services Coordinator
    Lisa Centola Bayless - (781) 434-7316

Regional Outreach

The Department of Regional Outreach ensures that MMS members have a voice at the local level. MMS regional office staff work with area district medical societies to help identify them as resources within their communities, improve relations among the district members, assist district society leadership, and help coordinate MMS activities on the regional and district level. Learn more about MMS districts and regional offices by clicking here.

  • Director, Regional Outreach & Association Management
    Lynda Layer, CAE - (781) 434-7317

  • Regional Office Assistant
    Susan Frazier - (781) 434-7211

Northeast Regional Office

860 Winter Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(800) 944-5562
Fax: (781) 464-4823

  • Manager, Regional Outreach
    Linda Howard - (781) 434-7539 or (800) 944-5562
  • Manager, Regional Outreach
    Waqaas Bhutta - (781) 434-7022 or (800) 944-5562

Southeast Regional Office

P.O. Box 1284
Lakeville, MA 02347-7284
(800) 322- 3301 or (508) 946-0120
Fax: (781) 464-4805

  • Manager, Regional Outreach
    Sheila E. Kozlowski - (800) 322-3301
  • Regional Office Assistant
    Patricia Newton - (800) 322-3301

West Central Regional Office

P.O. Box 1092
Wilbraham, MA 01095-7092
(800) 522-3112 or (413) 596-9231
Fax: (781) 464-4806

  • Manager, Regional Outreach
    Cathy Salas – (800) 522-3112
  • Regional Office Assistant
    Julie Frodema – (800) 522-3112

MMS/NEJM Continuing Medical Education, Accreditation & Recognition

The MMS is a national provider of continuing medical education and has been awarded the status of Accreditation with Commendation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This department develops, accredits, delivers, and reports annually on more than 300 CME and MOC activities in conjunction with MMS Committees and in joint providerships with other organizations. In addition, the MMS recognizes more than 35 hospitals and other healthcare organizations so that they may accredit their own individual CME activities through our Recognized Accreditor Program.

  • Director, Accreditation & Recognition
    Danna Muir - (781) 434-7302
  • Senior Program Manager, Continuing Education
    Jessica Vautour - (781) 434-7903
  • Operations Specialist, NEJM Group Education
    Barbara Cacciagrani - (781) 434-7331
  • Web Content Production Specialist, NEJM Group Education
    Thelma Tatten - (781) 434-7305
  • Manager, Accreditation & Education Compliance
    Jane Gagne - (781) 434-7304
  • Manager, Joint Providership Program
    Liza Martin - (781) 434-7301
  • Manager, Recognized Accreditor Program
    Nancy Marotta - (781) 434-7906
  • Project Manager, Accreditation & Education Compliance
    Bob Harless - (781) 434-7117

Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel provides legal support for all MMS departments, as well as its affiliates and subsidiaries. While the MMS does not provide legal advice to its members, the department does provide general resources on common legal and regulatory questions; to access those resources, please click here.

  • General Counsel/Vice President, Advocacy & Member Relations
    Charles Alagero - (781) 434-7001
  • Senior Legal Counsel
    Joseph Appel - (781) 434-7604
  • Senior Legal Counsel
    Liz Rover Bailey - (781) 434-7243
  • Assistant General Counsel
    William Frank - (781) 434-7239
  • Paralegal
    Brett Bauer - (781) 434-7242

Practice Solutions and Medical Economics

The Department of Practice Solutions and Medical Economics oversees efforts in advocacy and education on a range of topics impacting physicians including physician wellness, physician compensation, administrative simplification, patient safety and quality improvement. Department staff provide practice related insight to assist in the direction of MMS legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts and works with state agencies and member physicians on issues related to patient safety, quality measurement, cost transparency, health plan regulation and administrative simplification. The department works with health plans and state payers and advocates on behalf of physicians with regard to medical policy, reimbursement, audits, prior authorization and other claims issues. The department also runs the Physician Practice Resource Center (PPRC), which advises members on practice related issues whether for employed or private practice physicians. You can learn more about the valuable services offered by the PPRC and the department by clicking here.

To contact the Physician Practice Resource Center, call 800-322-2302 ext. 7702 or email pprc@mms.org.

  • Director, Practice Solutions & Medical Economics
    Yael Miller - (781) 434-7161
  • Practice Solutions Outreach Manager
    Bissan Biary - (781) 434-7392

Contact information for the Boston Medical Library – MMS Branch can be found here.

Information about MMS Affiliates and Subsidiaries can be found here.

Share on Facebook
270005MS_CARE_RR_300x250_0623_FINAL2 (1)

Testimonial

Atrius Health invests in an MMS group membership to benefit our community and our physicians. This is a time of rapid change in health care, and physicians need to play a leadership role in the change….Additionally, at a time when physician burnout is a national issue, Physician Health Services is a particularly helpful resource."

-Steven Strongwater, MD, president and CEO, Atrius Health
Facebook logoLinkedInYouTube logoInstagram

Copyright © 2023. Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham Woods Corporate Center, Waltham, MA 02451-1411

(781) 893-4610 | (781) 893-3800 | Member Information Hotline: (800) 322-2303 x7311