Leadership Insights

Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, president and interim CEO of the BMC Health System, joined BMC in 2012 with the goal of reimagining equitable care in the communities we serve. Since then, he’s demonstrated his commitment to empowering our patients and members to thrive and has been a champion of system growth. In this short video, Alastair explains why he moved to the United States from the UK, who’s had the biggest influence on his life, what inspires him, his one wish for the future of health care, and much more. Get to know Alastair and find out more about his vision for BMC Health System, as we rewrite the definition of healthcare through clinical excellence, research, innovation, and equitable care.

Sarah Carignan Arbelaez partners with clinical and administrative teams across BMC’s ambulatory and hospital services to enhance outcomes, health equity and access, and the overall experience for our patients. From a young age, Sarah was deeply moved by the profound impact of social determinants of health on patients and their families. Watch this video to learn more about Sarah’s journey and her dedication to making a positive difference for our patients and communities.

In February 2023, Megan Bair-Merritt, MD, MSCE, became Boston Medical Center's first-ever Chief Scientific Officer. As a clinician-researcher who has committed her career to clinical care, equity, and research, Dr. Bair-Merritt is helping to lead BMC’s world-class, interdisciplinary research while advancing health and racial equity. In this short video, Dr. Bair-Merritt explains what made her fall in love with BMC and our mission.

As BMC Health System’s Chief Strategy Officer, Cindy Bo oversees the health system’s strategic plan and priorities with an emphasis on healthcare innovation, growth, and community and behavioral health integration. Cindy believes that as a system, as we drive health excellence and health equity, we must first understand our communities and their unique needs for any strategy to be successful. “It is very important to think about leading from the heart and always doing the right thing,” Cindy says. “To me, that’s what BMC stands for.”

Joy Brown, BMC Health System Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer, joined us in February and is leading the strategy for improving our health system’s operations through technology while developing and enhancing our digital health capabilities that improve healthcare access and the digital experience for our patients. Hear more about Joy’s vision in this short video.

Since joining BMC in 2011, Joe Camillus has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, equitable care to our patients and communities. Joe has made significant contributions that have positively impacted patient experience, including improving access and patient flow.

In this short video, the Pittsburgh-native talks about his thoughts for the future of healthcare and his journey to BMC, including moving to the U.S. with his family as a baby. “I really thank my parents for guiding me and helping me get to a job where I feel like I can make a contribution back to people who really need it.”

When Rachel Felix, BMCHS Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, moved to Boston, she felt drawn to join an organization focused on mission-based work. In this short video, Felix talks about how she’s elevating the brand of BMCHS to help connect and drive better outcomes for our patients and families.

As BMC’s Chief Quality Officer, Jodi Larson, MD, oversees our hospital’s strategic delivery of high-quality, safe, and equitable patient care. Dr. Larson believes in creating a culture of continuous improvement, where data is leveraged every day to collaboratively improve performance across Boston Medical Center. Watch this short video to learn more about Dr. Larson, what led her to this role, and the type of environment she wants to create at BMC through the Quality Department.

David McAneny, MD has devoted his professional career to surgical oncology. As BMC’s Chief Medical Officer, he now oversees physicians and advanced practice providers in their delivery of exceptional and equitable care to all of our patients and their families. Dr. McAneny first came to BMC (then Boston City Hospital and University Hospital) as a resident and returned after fellowship. He says the people — our patients and staff — have kept him here ever since. Learn more about more about Dr. McAneny, including what makes him proud of BMC, in the video below.

As BMC’s Chief of Pediatrics, Dr. Paintsil is committed to delivering expert pediatric care and reimagining the experience of care so our patients can thrive. His perspective on patient care traces back to his formative experiences in Ghana, a place he holds as the most beautiful on Earth. In the video below, Dr. Paintsil shares how his upbringing in Ghana inspired his dream of becoming a doctor.

As BMC’s Director of Graduate Medical Education and Associate Chief Medical Officer, Jeff Schneider, MD, oversees our nationally renowned clinical training programs that include more than 750 residents and fellows spread across nearly 70 training programs. Dr. Schneider, who has more than 20 years of experience as an emergency medicine physician, is particularly proud of how BMC integrates our commitment to health equity with world-class clinical training. Watch this video to discover more about Dr. Schneider’s approach to teaching and how BMC is shaping the future of healthcare through education and research.

As BMC Health System’s Chief Transformation Officer, Jesse Souweine leads the development, execution, and sustainability of projects and improvements that help us achieve our mission. Jesse has dedicated her career to nonprofit and public organizations with a goal of helping people and teams align and work better together. A year ago, Jesse decided to join BMC Health System because she wanted to impact the lives of our patients and members. Watch this video to learn more about Jesse and her vision for BMC Health System.

Heather Thiltgen oversees the strategy and operations of WellSense Health Plan, a nonprofit health insurance company that is part of BMC Health System. Watch this short video to learn how Heather’s passion and leadership inspire the mission of WellSense to support its members in living their healthiest lives.