Bob Master, MD, founder and former president and chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Care Alliance, has joined Community Catalyst’s Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation as a senior fellow. In this role, Master will serve as a strategic advisor and a thought leader for the Center as he continues his life’s work of improving care for those who are most vulnerable.

“Bob is a visionary and pioneer in the design of high-quality health care for patients with very complex medical needs,” said Ann Hwang, M.D., director of the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation (the Center). “His deep expertise will help the Center as it seeks to advance a culture of patient-centered care throughout the U.S. health care system.”

Master has a long affiliation with Community Catalyst, where as a 2003 Soros/Open Society Institute Fellow he incubated the plan for the Commonwealth Care Alliance, a Boston-based non-profit health plan and delivery system focused on providing patient‐centered, team-oriented care to individuals with socially and medically complex needs. Launched in 2003, the Commonwealth Care Alliance is now a nationally recognized model for providing high-quality, low-cost care to “dually eligible” individuals who have both Medicare and Medicaid. 

“In order to create a patient-centered culture of care, we have to engage patients and their caregivers in the design process,” said Master. “I welcome the opportunity to be part of the Center’s efforts to bring consumers to the forefront of health so our health system is more responsive to the needs of the people it serves, particularly those who are most at risk of falling through the cracks.”

“Bob’s entire career has been dedicated to rethinking traditional models of care because they haven’t worked for many people, especially low-income people with disabilities and chronic conditions, and older adults,” said Rob Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst.  “He will help us think about how we push the health system toward care that leads to better health.

Master is a practicing physician at Boston Medical Center. Prior to starting the Commonwealth Care Alliance, he founded the Urban Medical Group, which introduced new approaches to nursing home and medical care using nurse practitioners. He served as the first physician and medical director of the Uphams Corner Health Center, a leading community health center in Boston. Master is an Associate Professor of Public Health at Boston University’s School of Public Health, where he previously served as Chair of the Health Services Department. 

 

About the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation

The Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation is a hub devoted to teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge to bring the consumer experience to the forefront of health innovation. Building upon Community Catalyst’s experience working in more than 40 states with consumer advocates, state and federal policymakers and industry, the Center examines problems and identifies practical solutions to improve the consumer health care experience. Through investments in state and local advocacy, leadership development, research and evaluation, and consultative services to delivery systems and health plans, we aim to reshape our health system to deliver better care, better value and better health for every community. Visit healthinnovation.communitycatalyst.org or follow us on Twitter @CCEHI.

 

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