Women supporting women’s health — since 1892, that has been the mission of The Vincent Club. Originally founded to raise funds for the Vincent Memorial Hospital for Women in 1988, when the Vincent merged with Massachusetts General Hospital, the group shifted to supporting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN). The Vincent Club has made a significant impact on women’s health at Mass General through such efforts as the Mary Ann Vincent Fellowship in Mass General’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Newborn Necessities, educational forums and more. Former Vincent Club President Debbie Lewis spoke with us in honor of their latest effort — helping to establish the Vincent Postpartum Navigator position to help women access care, including mental healthcare, after giving birth.
What inspires The Vincent Club?
Mass General is a great research institution — somewhere women can come for excellent care, but also a place that’s moving the future of women’s medicine forward. That’s what motivates me, our charter to support the OB/GYN department and advance understanding of women’s health — both through the Mary Ann Vincent Fellowship and educational events for our members.
How did the Vincent Postpartum Navigator come about?
Dr. Ecker (Jeffrey Ecker, MD, Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology) told us he saw a need for a postpartum navigator, especially when a patient may have postpartum depression, which can make it difficult to access care. Without hesitation, our board voted to add this position to our fundraising goals every year. The Vincent Postpartum Navigator will know about the resources available to new mothers, and help with appointments — the kind of follow-up that can make all the difference.
What other accomplishments are you most proud of?
Health equity and education are priorities for our members. Our Newborn Necessities kits include a portable crib, clothing, blankets, diapers and other supplies. The nurses say it helps their morale, too, to be able to provide essentials for new immigrants, patients experiencing homelessness or any patients with few resources.
We have two symposiums each year and other events where we hear from Mass General specialists on topics like fertility, caring for your aging body or heart disease in women. These events almost always sell out — we’re growing faster than we ever have, with many professional women joining at all stages of their careers. Our members are very interested in women’s health and have made it their priority to support it.
To learn more about how you can support women’s health at Mass General, contact us.
