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Barbra Rabson marked a quarter-century of helping to improve patient care in Massachusetts

March 13, 2024
by Fran Fried

Alumni Spotlight: Barbra G. Rabson, MPH ’83 (HSA/EPI)

What is your current job?

President and CEO of the Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (mhqp.org) In May 2023, I celebrated my 25th anniversary in this role.

Describe your work and why you find it rewarding/challenging.

MHQP’s mission is to improve patient experiences of care in Massachusetts. I am particularly proud of some recent work MHQP did recently to create the first-in-the-nation dashboard about the health of primary care in Massachusetts. The following are links to the dashboard and to a Boston Globe editorial I wrote with a fellow Yale medical school alum.

How did YSPH prepare you for your current work?

My Yale degree launched me into a career of meaningful work to improve our healthcare system.

Were there any faculty/staff mentors who influenced your YSPH experience?

Helen Smits, MD. It was an incredible privilege to study health policy from a person who had just been running the Medicaid program for the federal government.

What advice do you have for current YSPH students?

Change happens when individuals commit themselves to making a difference and keep at it. We have so much work to do; there are opportunities for everyone to follow their passions.