Boston Medical Center pediatrician to take the stage at TED2018, joining newest class of 20 young innovators from four continents.
(Boston) – Jan. 9, 2018 – Pediatrician Lucy Marcil has been selected as a TED Fellow, joining a class of 20 change-makers from around the world who will deliver a talk on the TED stage this April in Vancouver. Marcil is the co-founder of Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) StreetCred program, which provides free tax services to families who are eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax and Child Tax Credits – all completed while they are visiting the pediatrician’s office.
Marcil has found her passion working with children and creating innovative solutions to help alleviate the adversity and stress of those living in poverty. During her residency at BMC, Marcil and StreetCred co-founder, Michael Hole, MD, MBA, recognized many of their patient families were eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), but they weren’t receiving it because they were not filing taxes, were unaware of their eligibility or were losing money to for-profit tax preparation.
As clinicians, they understood the importance of addressing social determinants of health and created a first of its kind program to help pediatric patient families file their taxes while at BMC for an appointment. In 2016 they launched StreetCred, which identifies families in BMC’s outpatient pediatric clinic and helps them file their taxes while they are there for an appointment by trained tax prep volunteers.
Research has shown children whose families receive the Earned Income Tax Credit have improved infant health, perform better in school, and are on track to lead successful adult lives. StreetCred makes sure families get every dollar they are owed; in the past two years the program has expanded to four sites and returned $1.6 million to 750 families.
“I am honored to be a part of this incredible group of innovators,” said Marcil. “With the visibility of the TED Fellows program, I hope to replicate this model of bringing free, accessible tax preparation to the doctor’s office across the country and put more money in the pockets of those who need it most.”
Founded in 2009, the TED Fellows program has 453 Fellows from 96 countries, whose talks have collectively been viewed more than 178 million times. In its nine-year history, the TED Fellows program has created a powerful, far-reaching network – made up of scientists, doctors, activists, artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, journalists and beyond -- leading to many meaningful and unexpected collaborations. A full list of the new TED Fellows and Senior Fellows is available at ted.com/fellows.
“We are proud that our 2018 Fellows comprise a truly global, cross-disciplinary group of individuals, each of whom has already had extraordinary impact in their fields. They are boldly using technology, the arts, science, advocacy and beyond to address some the most pressing topics of our day – including campus sexual assault, refugee health, a free and independent press, and climate change,” said TED Fellows Deputy Director Shoham Arad.
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