Philip W. Johnston
Philip W. Johnston will receive Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center’s Exceptional Leaders award later this month for his work expanding access to quality health care.
As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Philip Johnston created the state Department of Social Services and instituted a hotline for abused and neglected children, improved service delivery to adults and juveniles in the corrections system, and reformed the state’s mental health system.
Johnson was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as New England Administrator of Health and Human Services. The former state representative and immediate past Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic party, Johnson founded the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, which provides residential and educational services for at-risk children.
Johnson also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum.
Also scheduled to be honored during Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center’s annual event on Sept. 21 at the Seaport Hotel are: Councillor At Large Ayanna Pressley; Barbara Ferrer, chair of Boston Health Commission and Alberto Vasallo, III VP, El Mundo Newspaper.
