WALTHAM – The late Dr. Barbara Herbert has been honored by the Massachusetts Medical Society as the 2023 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, given to a member of the Society who has made lasting contributions to the practice of medicine over
a lifetime in health care delivery, patient care, education, and administration and who has made significant contributions to the goals of the Society.
Herbert, a longtime resident of Cambridge, was a passionate and renowned health care and social activist, who championed the underrepresented and underserved – from members of the LGBTQ community to women to those who suffer from addiction.
A graduate of Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Herbert practiced for more than 30 years, specializing in addiction medicine and emergency medicine. She was a tireless advocate and mentor who worked to confront and reduce stigma around patients
with mental illness.
"(Herbert) was a true advocate for the underserved and underrepresented and a courageous champion of the vulnerable,” MMS president Dr. Ted Calianos said. "There is a Greek word ‘axios’ that captures the depth of emotion associated with her worthiness
for this award. While this award is being given posthumously, there is another Greek phrase that comes to mind that is chanted at a funeral ‘Eonia i mnimi.’ Translated it means memory eternal. I am sure that Dr. Herbert's memory will live eternal
in all those whose lives she touched."
Herbert’s service to the Massachusetts Medical Society was marked by participation on several organizational committees and or task forces, including the Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention, the Committee on Mental Health and Substance
Use, the Committee on Legislation, the Committee on Public Health, the Committee on LGBTQ Matters, and the Committee on Opioid Therapy and Physician Communication. She also was a member of the House of Delegates, and the MMS Alliance and Charitable
Foundation.
She was a past president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine (MSAM).
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) is the statewide professional association for physicians and medical students, supporting 25,000 members. We are dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians of Massachusetts and patients locally and nationally. A leadership voice in health care, the MMS contributes physician and patient perspectives to influence health-related legislation at the state and federal levels, works in support of public health, provides expert advice on physician practice management, and addresses issues of physician well-being. Under the auspices of the NEJM Group, the MMS extends our mission globally by advancing medical knowledge from research to patient care through the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Catalyst, and the NEJM Journal Watch family of specialty publications, and through our education products for health care professionals: NEJM Knowledge+, NEJM Resident 360, and our accredited and comprehensive continuing medical education programs.
