UMass Medical School’s Joyce A. Murphy, MPA, executive vice chancellor of Commonwealth Medicine, will be honored with the John M. Corcoran Award for Excellence at the St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children’s 15th annual Diamonds of Dorchester event on October 17, 2018.
Founded in 1993, St. Mary’s Center celebrates 25 years of service and its origins by honoring Murphy with an award named for the founding trustee of the Center, John M. Corcoran. The late real estate developer and philanthropist selected Murphy to work with him in leading the transformation of the former St. Margaret’s Hospital to become St. Mary’s Center, a multi-faceted health and human services center for at risk families.
“We are thrilled to honor Joyce at the Diamonds of Dorchester event this year, especially during such a special year celebrating St. Mary’s 25th anniversary. So many Moms and children have called St. Mary’s Center home, regained hope, and forged a path to success. For this we are indebted to Joyce and Mr. Corcoran,” said Deirdre Houtmeyers, president and chief executive officer, St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children.
Following the transition of the former hospital complex to the women and children’s center, Murphy became the first president. Among Murphy’s many accomplishments, she created the Bridge Home, a residential program for children, newborn to twelve years of age who have experienced trauma and abuse in their home.
Since its founding, the Center has served more than 10,000 families through its mission to partner with women and children as they achieve emotional well-being, educational achievements, and economic independence. The agency has five residential and three education and employment programs.
At the agency’s 2017 Diamonds of Dorchester event, St. Mary’s Center announced a million-match challenge gift from Amazon. This month, the agency met the challenge raising $2.2 million toward the $7 million Community Resource Center project and capital campaign.
Murphy has been a trailblazer for women and has led a distinguished career, including nine years as president and CEO of Carney Hospital, a community teaching hospital. Murphy began her career at the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC), where she later became the Superintendent of Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Framingham, the sole women’s prison in the Commonwealth. Following her 11-year tenure at the DOC, Murphy served as first deputy commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for four years. She joined UMass Medical School in 2006 as vice chancellor and chief operating officer of Commonwealth Medicine.
Throughout her career, Murphy has received numerous awards, including the Trailblazing Women Award from UMass Medical School and the Pinnacle Award from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves as chair of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Board of Directors, and is a director on the Curry College, Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, UHealthSolutions, East Boston Savings Bank, and Meridian Bancorp, Inc. boards.
Murphy holds a master of public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, an honorary doctorate of public administration from Curry College and a bachelor’s degree from UMass Boston.