Since accepting her first job out of college with Massachusetts General Hospital social services programs, Amy Judd has always found her way back to Mass General Brigham.
Later in her career, she took a job with the Mass General Physicians Organization developing community-based programs, followed by a role with Partners in Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Next, she found herself on the other side of the desk, as a cancer patient at Mass General.
“In my many years of experience as an employee and patient at both Mass General and Brigham and Women’s, I witnessed how committed both institutions are to improving access to care, providing community-based resources, and addressing global health needs across the world,” Amy says.
Now, as a loyal donor and dedicated volunteer, Amy supports Mass General’s community health programs, primarily the MGH Revere Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen, and advances her shared commitment to providing outstanding healthcare for all patients.
Amy’s late husband, William Paly, MD, shared her passion for expanding access to healthcare. Their son, Jonathan Paly, DO, is a radiation oncologist at Mass General. “Our family values the opportunity to support those in need and improve access to care,” Amy says.
Action Inspired by Gratitude
Even before her cancer treatment, Amy was a primary care patient at Mass General, where, she says, she always felt supported and taken care of, even in complex clinical situations.
“Over 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer out of the blue, and received wonderful care at Mass General,” she says.
Thanks to her successful treatment, Amy’s doctors have found no evidence of disease for nearly fourteen years. Amy credits this to her oncologist, Steven Isakoff, MD, PhD, MMSC, and the thoughtful, collaborative approach he and his colleagues used in treating her cancer. Amy noted that the team was always available to answer her questions and talk through all of her treatment options.
“As a grateful patient benefiting from stellar care, I now work toward the goal of promoting access to exceptional care for everyone. I want to find ways to support initiatives in this space at Mass General, both through financial support and volunteerism,” Amy says. “I consider healthcare a human right.”
A Philanthropic Vision
Since 2021, Amy has been an enthusiastic supporter of efforts that advance community health, quality and safety. She helped bring her own vision to life by making several philanthropic gifts and by becoming actively involved in the community.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy made a gift to support the cancer patient navigation program at the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, and to support the emergency needs of cancer patients at the time.
In 2021, she established an endowed fund to support Mass General initiatives that improve access and provide resources, including cancer care and other unmet needs, for low-income individuals and communities.
More recently, Amy has contributed to the Revere Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen, where she also volunteers, helping to provide the Revere community with nutritious food and with the support and knowledge needed to prepare fresh, plant-based, whole foods in delicious ways.
“It means a lot to me to be able to provide this kind of support and to extend a family value of contribution and betterment. I’m in a very privileged position, to be able to use my resources to carry on the vision I shared with my husband, along with our sons,” Amy says.
The Impact of Volunteerism
Once a week, Amy helps wash dishes for the plant-based cooking classes at the Teaching Kitchen.
“It’s so meaningful to witness the engagement of those participating in the class,” Amy says.
“Food truly is medicine,” says Michael Lenson, program manager of the Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen as well as the health center’s Youth Zone. “It’s incredibly impactful for the folks we serve to be provided free, healthy food, and instruction on how to prepare nutritious meals using the ingredients they receive each week.”
Recently, Michael noticed that the cooking class participants were eating the meals they prepared separately, and he pushed their tables together, encouraging them to get to know each other. Now, they eat family-style, and he says that tables have not moved in months.
“Despite many of the participants speaking different languages, they’re all finding ways to communicate and have become extremely close-knit,” he says.
“Philanthropy is essential to running a free program, and Amy is an amazing philanthropist and volunteer who directly helps ensure these classes can happen,” says Elliot Kephart, registered dietitian and chef at the Teaching Kitchen. “My hope is that, with additional funds, we can keep expanding our scope, enabling us to have more participants at each class, and provide classes in more languages.”
To support the Revere Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen, click here.
