Longwood Happenings: March Edition

The Longwood Happenings newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox each month, delivers informative, engaging, and helpful updates about all things LMA! From local events to commuter resources, we provide everything you need to know about the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. 

A Message from the President

Dear Longwood,

Data tells the story of Longwood’s impact. For the past 25 years, we have partnered with our members to gather critical demographic, operational, financial, and sustainability data. This information enables us to tell the story of Longwood as we continue to work on our members’ behalf, building consensus across local and municipal partners, applying for grant funding, and advancing city and state policies.

Today, that story is more impressive than ever, and these figures serve as the cornerstones of how we convey Longwood’s impact and status as a powerhouse of culture, education, medicine, and research:

As we turn our attention toward the next phase of growth in the district, we are launching a new and improved data collection effort that streamlines the reporting processes for our members and increases the relevance, accuracy, and efficiency of our data collection. Thanks to the efforts of our data partners at member institutions, this will equip us with the key, up-to-date information we need to serve as effective communicators and representatives for the district in a rapidly changing world.

Data collection begins next week, and we thank those who are contributing to this effort at our member institutions. We look forward to sharing these impactful figures, which reinforce Longwood’s global leadership in healthcare, research, culture, and education.

Sincerely,

David Sweeney
President and CEO

In Photos

Celebrating Transit Driver Appreciation Day

This week, we celebrated the drivers of our Longwood Collective shuttle system at WeDriveU in honor of Transit Driver Appreciation Day. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, our fleet of 37 shuttles get 2 million passengers to and from their destinations each year safely and smoothly.

As part of the celebration, we also collected quotes from our riders, providing the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences with the LMA Shuttle system. Check out some of their messages below, and don't forget to vote in this year's LMA Shuttle Madness tournament!

Capturing Community Joy on Blackfan Street 

Last week, Longwood Collective held our final Longwood Winterfest event on Blackfan Street. We saw dozens of patients, students, and workers pass through, taking a moment out of their day to enjoy a hot beverage, play some games, and listen to live music.

It won't be long until our signature yellow umbrellas, daily live music, free game carts, and dog petting events are back around the district, so we encourage you to stay tuned on social media.

Here's to another great winter Outside// season in Longwood!

Mark Your Calendar

Red Sox Home Opener: April 3rd

Spring is in the air in Boston and that means it is just about time for the Red Sox to return to Fenway Park! The first home game of the season is on Friday, April 3 at 2:10pm.

As neighbors of Fenway Park, it is important to keep in mind the impact of Red Sox game days on traffic, parking, public transit, and shuttle service in the Longwood Area. Be sure to check out the channels below for up-to-date information on related LMA Shuttle detours.

Getting Around

Bike Longwood Launches into Spring

After a frigid winter spent in the 375 Longwood Avenue garage, we are excited to share that our regularly scheduled programming of Bike Longwood is back for the spring season! Tune ups will be held at the 375 Longwood Avenue Plaza throughout the season, on the corner of Longwood Avenue and Nessel Way, with two special sessions at Shapiro Plaza for Beth Israel Deaconess' celebration of Earth Day. Bikers in the LMA community are invited to book an appointment to receive the tune up ABCs: air, brake, and chain checks!

Tune ups are available on the following days...

Sign Up Here.

In the Neighborhood

MASCO Call Center - Answering Services: Smart Support for Busy Teams

The MASCO Services, Inc. Call Center, located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, is here to support your team with reliable, professional call handling — day, night, and everything in between. Whether you need coverage during lunch hours, staff meetings, after‑hours, or unexpected staffing gaps, they ensure your callers receive prompt, courteous assistance every time. With customizable scripting, seamless message delivery, and a team trained to represent your practice with care, the MSI Call Center helps you stay connected to your patients and maintain exceptional service. If your department could benefit from added support, MSI is here to help.

Plus, for a limited time, MSI is offering a complimentary 30-day trial with no setup fee and no commitment required. Sign up by July 2026 to take advantage of this offer.

Please call 617-632-2349 or visit www.msicallcenter.com for more information.

A Message from Our Member: Joslin Diabetes Center

"After nearly 70 years of serving patients and advancing diabetes research and care in our home at One Joslin Place, we are excited to share that Joslin Diabetes Center has fully moved its clinical and research operations into new spaces on the East Campus at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Center for Life Science (CLS). The official date of our full relocation is February 23, 2026.

This move reflects the organization’s continued commitment to providing world-class care and research in a setting that enhances collaboration with our partners at BIDMC and across the Longwood Medical Area. Joslin is strengthening both its longstanding relationship with BIDMC and ability to deliver integrated, patient-centered care while maintaining its legacy of innovation and leadership in diabetes treatment and research.

Joslin is deeply grateful for the support and partnership of the Longwood Collective throughout its history in the neighborhood and looks forward to continuing to work closely with its members and institutions to ensure the Longwood area thrives as a hub of medical excellence and community engagement."

Policy Pulse

BERDO Upcoming Deadlines & Resources for Building Owners

As Boston moves forward with implementing the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), the City of Boston and the Green Ribbon Commission (GRC) are launching a new, recurring BERDO Office Hours series both over Zoom and in-person designed specifically for Boston building owners and operators.

The goal of these office hours is to create space for peer-to-peer learning, practical discussion, and candid conversation about what it takes to implement BERDO in Boston buildings. The next session will be held in-person on April 8.

Member Spotlight: Boston Children's Hospital

Kevin B. Churchwell, MD Named 2026 Distinguished Bostonian 

On May 12, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce will host the 2026 Annual Meeting, the Chamber's premiere convening for the region. With this year’s theme of Revolutionary Past. Visionary Future, the Chamber honors the past while shaping the future. Powered by entrepreneurs, cutting-edge technology, and world-renowned medical and higher education institutions, the Commonwealth drives breakthroughs that strengthen communities, grow businesses, and change lives. Kevin B. Churchwell, MD, the Chief Executive Officer of Boston Children's Hospital, has been selected as a 2026 Distinguished Bostonian.

“At Boston Children’s, our community mission is driven by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. That mission is made possible through the kinds of partnerships and civic dedication that the Chamber champions. Together, we’re building a Boston where every family, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to the care, resources, and opportunity their children need to reach their full potential.”

Congratulations, Dr. Churchwell!

Longwood in the News

Boston AI Startup Predicts Risk of Breast Cancer Before Tumors Appear at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Clinic

Boston Globe

This month, at a Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center clinic in Chestnut Hill, the company known as Clairity started providing patients with an assessment of their likelihood of getting breast cancer. Using only a typical mammogram image, the system is able to pinpoint women at a high risk of developing breast cancer with much greater accuracy than traditional methods that rely on family histories and questionnaires. Identifying women at high risk allows doctors to suggest patients change habits, like avoiding alcohol, or prescribe preventive medicines like Tamoxifen to reduce the chance of a tumor ever developing.

Harvard Professor of Neurobiology Wins 2026 Brain Prize for Discovering Mechanics of Touch

The Transmitter

Two neurobiologists who helped decipher how the somatosensory system detects touch and pain have won this year’s Brain Prize, the world’s largest award in neuroscience. 

Patrik Ernfors, professor of tissue biology at the Karolinska Institutet, and David Ginty, professor of neurobiology at Harvard University, will share the award. Research by Ernfors and Ginty has “created a blueprint for understanding normal touch and for pinpointing where things go wrong in disorders such as chronic pain,” said Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, chair of the Brain Prize selection committee, in a press release announcing the winners.

Former Boston Children's Hospital Patient Competes at Milan Cortina Paralympics

NBC Boston

Eighteen-year-old Jack Berry has survived both bone and lung cancer, and now he’s showing off his skills in Nordic skiing on the slopes in Milan. At 10 years old, Berry was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, above his knee and underwent rotationplasty surgery at Boston Children's Hospital to have the cancerous segment of bone removed.

Dr. Kevin Tabb to Step Down as CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health

Boston Globe

The head of Beth Israel Lahey Health, Dr. Kevin Tabb, announced Wednesday his plans to step aside in a year from the state’s second-largest hospital system, saying the time had come for fresh energy atop the organization. Tabb said he’s not yet retiring, but feels the time is right to announce his intention to leave, after having steered the hospital system through the pandemic and to financial stability. The CEO, who has led the organization for 14 years, will leave Beth Israel Lahey Health on the heels of a successful stretch, but also in the midst of tremendous change within the organization, as well as the industry. Construction of a new cancer hospital with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is about to break ground and looming federal health care cuts have contributed to a number of headwinds confronting medical providers of all sizes.