WALTHAM - Dr. Jessie M. Gaeta, Chief
Medical Officer of Boston Health Care for the Homeless, has been honored by the
Massachusetts Medical Society as the 2018 recipient of the society’s Special
Award for Excellence in Medical Service.
The award honors a physician who has
made a distinguished demonstration of compassion and dedication to the medical
needs of his or her patients and the general public.
Gaeta is a nationally renowned
expert in harm reduction with a focus on the opioid crisis and in connecting
those underserved and disconnected from traditional means of health care with
pathways to treat substance use disorder.
“Jessie is a progressive thought leader who reaches people
in a manner reflecting individual and community needs, resulting in the bold
step of BHCH opening a ‘Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment,’” said
Dr. Dennis Dimitri, past president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Gaeta has been at the forefront of
the Massachusetts Medical Society’s move to endorse the piloting of a
supervised injection facility in the Commonwealth, offering her expertise on
harm reduction and addiction, as well as an influential and informed advocacy
voice on the subject.
“(Gaeta) is contributing a strong
public voice to counter the stigma associated with addiction, and promote a
compassionate and engaging approach to treatment of those with substance use
disorders,” Gaeta’s BHCHP colleague Dr. Gabriel Wishik said. “Dr. Gaeta is
truly an outstanding example of compassion in action, and serves as a role
model for clinical care, leadership, and innovation to all those around her.”
Gaeta graduated from the University of Maryland School of
Medicine and is an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School
of Medicine.
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) is the
statewide professional association for physicians and medical students,
supporting 25,000 members. We are dedicated to educating and advocating for the
physicians of Massachusetts and patients locally and nationally. A leadership
voice in health care, the MMS contributes physician and patient perspectives to
influence health-related legislation at the state and federal levels, works in
support of public health, provides expert advice on physician practice management,
and addresses issues of physician well-being. Under the auspices of the NEJM
Group, the MMS extends our mission globally by advancing medical knowledge from
research to patient care through the New
England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Catalyst, and the NEJM Journal Watch
family of specialty publications, and through our education products for health
care professionals: NEJM Knowledge+, NEJM Resident 360, and our accredited and
comprehensive continuing medical education programs.
