Eds & Meds: The Economic Engine of the Commonwealth

October 28, 2025 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Event Details

Better understand the role of universities and hospitals (our Eds and Meds) as key anchors of the Massachusetts economy.

Hear directly from top leaders in education and healthcare on how Eds and Meds are adapting to fiscal and policy challenges.

Get exclusive insights into the Chamber’s new economic impact report and what it means for Massachusetts’s future.

Tickets

Free to Members & Non-Members

Advancing Regional Growth Through Academic and Healthcare Synergy

Join us for an insightful and forward-thinking conversation with top leaders in education and healthcare as we explore the vital role universities and hospitals play in our economy and the impact of recent policy and fiscal challenges facing these key industries.

Beyond the vital health care and education our hospitals, colleges, universities, and community health centers provide to Massachusetts’s residents and beyond, our “Eds and Meds” are critical economic engines for our cities and towns, and the Commonwealth as a whole. These educational and healthcare institutions serve as anchors for economic development, attracting businesses and talent while fostering an environment that supports entrepreneurship and technological advancement.

To better understand how they remain vital to our continued economic success, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce commissioned an independent economic impact report analyzing the Commonwealth’s Eds and Meds institutions, including 88 colleges and universities and 93 health systems. The results speak for themselves – billions in economic impacts and tax revenue, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and an unparalleled concentration of talent and innovation.

This event will bring the report to life through a short video, dynamic presentations, and a panel moderated by Yvonne Hao, COO of Flagship Pioneering and former Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, where speakers will share real-world insights, challenges, and opportunities as they look ahead to 2026. The program will begin with a presentation of select findings from the Chamber’s economic impact report by Econsult Solutions, Inc., setting the stage for deeper discussion. These insights will help frame how Eds and Meds institutions are navigating fiscal pressures, shifting workforce demands, and policy changes shaping Massachusetts’ future, followed by firsthand perspectives from leading education and healthcare professionals offering a grounded look at the sector’s evolving landscape.

Press and media wishing to cover the event must RSVP to [email protected].

Questions? Contact us.

Erica Deese

Senior Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Erica

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Speakers

Yvonne Hao

Chief Operating Officer and General Partner,
Flagship Pioneering

Yvonne Hao joined Flagship Pioneering in 2025 as Chief Operating Officer and General Partner. In this role she leads key functional pillars that support Flagship…Read more

Lee Huang

Principal,
Econsult Solutions, Inc.

As principal of Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI), Lee Huang brings in over 20 years of experience in economic development to ESI’s public, private, institutional,…Read more

As principal of Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI), Lee Huang brings in over 20 years of experience in economic development to ESI’s public, private, institutional, and no-for-profit clients. Mr. Huang leads consulting engagements in a wide range of fields, including higher education, economic inclusion, environmental sustainability, historic preservation, real estate, neighborhood economic development, non-profits, retail, state and local government, strategic planning, tax policy, and tourism / hospitality, and is a sought-after speaker on these and other topics. His higher education clients have included Carnegie Mellon University, Emory University, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, and the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. His economic inclusion work has included analyses of the utilization of minority- and women-owned businesses in municipal contracts in Philadelphia, as well as examinations of home lending, business lending, and branch location patterns in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and New York City.

Prior to joining ESI, Mr. Huang was a director with Econsult Corporation. From 1995 to 2005, he managed The Enterprise Center, an entrepreneurial center in West Philadelphia where he acquired extensive experience in day-to-day management as well as strategic decision making. Most recently he served as executive vice president, a position in which he was responsible for all programs and operations, and helped manage a staff of fifty and interns, and a $1.2 million budget. He was also founder of The Enterprise Center’ YES (Youth+Entrepreneurship=Success) Program, and Director of Cities Beyond, The Enterprise Center’s consulting department.

Mr. Huang serves on the boards of Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC) and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design. He also serves on the University Science Center Inclusive Ecosystem Advisory Council. From 2018 to 2021, Mr. Huang served as one of the nine Philadelphia Board of Education members appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, helping to oversee a school district of 200,000 students and an annual $3.5 billion budget.

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Steve Walsh

President & CEO,
MHA

Steve Walsh has served as President and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association since November 2017. He oversees MHA’s mission to create a more…Read more

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Michael Curry, ESQ.

President & CEO,
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Michael Curry, Esq. is President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, representing 50 health centers and serving over one million patients…Read more

Michael Curry, Esq. is President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, representing 50 health centers and serving over one million patients at 285 practice sites across Massachusetts. Under his leadership, the organization has doubled in size over four years, now with over 100 staff, and secured a $300 million contract to administer the state’s provider loan repayment program (MA Repay). He also launched the nation’s first Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy, Inc. (IHE), a nonprofit focused on community-driven research and policy for health equity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael was appointed by the Massachusetts Senate to co-chair the Health Equity Task Force, addressing health disparities highlighted by the pandemic. He also served on the COVID-19 Vaccine Working Group, the Department of Public Health’s Health Equity Advisory Group, the City of Boston’s Health Inequity Task Force, and the City of Brockton’s Social Justice Task Force. These experiences led him to co-launch the Health Equity Compact (HEC), a coalition of over 85 C-suite leaders of color driving health equity reform in Massachusetts. The HEC filed the first-in-the-nation omnibus health equity reform bill, hosted the state’s first Health Equity Summit, published a Cost of Inequity report with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, and partnered with MassINC for a poll on health equity. Michael has over 35 years of experience in civil rights advocacy, health reform, and health equity. He is the Past President of the Boston Branch of the NAACP (2011-2016) and has served the NAACP at city, state, and national levels for over 25 years. He was elected to the NAACP Board of Directors in 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023, serving on the Executive Committee, chairing the Advocacy & Policy Committee, the Constitution and Bylaws Sub-Committee, and vice-chairing the Political Action and Legislation Committee. In 2021, he was appointed Administrator for the New England Area Conference of the NAACP, overseeing branches in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. In September 2024, he was appointed Administrator for the Maryland State Conference and Baltimore City Branch.

Dr. Curry is a frequent political commentator on WBUR’s Radio Boston, Boston Public Radio WGBH, WGBH’s Greater Boston, and New England Cable News, and is often asked to provide reactions to breaking news and political debates.

He has been named annually as one of the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 Movement Makers since 2022, one of Boston Magazine’s 150 Most Influential Bostonians since 2023, one of Boston’s Most Influential Men of Color by Get Konnected!, and a Bostonian of the Year in 2021 by The Boston Globe and Boston Magazine. He was also recognized as one of the 57 Most Influential Black Attorneys in the Northeast by the New England Black Law Students Association and inducted into the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Academy of Distinguished Bostonians.

Michael Curry has received numerous local and national leadership awards, including: – Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Academy of Distinguished Bostonians (2025) – Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts’ Melvin H. King Community Leadership Award (2024) – Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s City Champion Award (2024) -Disability Policy Consortium’s John Winske Memorial Award (2024) – National Association of Community Health Center’s Norton Wilson State/Regional Leadership Award (2024) – Pillar of the Community Award by The Roxbury Unity Parade and Awards Committee (2024) – Cambridge Health Alliance’s Art of Healing Award (2024) – Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action’s Community Leadership Award (2024) – Catalyst for Change Award from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (2023) – Roxbury Community College’s Community Service Award (2023) – Friend & Leader Award by the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (2023) – Honored by Caring Health Center in Springfield, MA for Contributions to Healthcare (2023) – Social Capital Inc.’s Idealist Award (2023) – Trailblazer Award from the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (2022) – National NAACP’s Montague Cobb Award (2022) – Community Leadership Award from the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (2022) – Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Non-profit Network (2022) – Macalester College’s Catharine Lealtad Service to Society Award (2017) – Betsey K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award, National Association for Community Health Centers (2013)

Despite his many recognitions, Michael Curry emphasizes his humble beginnings: born into poverty, raised by a single mother in public housing, and a graduate of Boston Public Schools. He holds degrees from Macalester College (St. Paul, MN), New England Law Boston, and completed the Executive Leadership Council’s Pipeline to Leadership Program. He is a member of the Massachusetts BAR.

Dr. Curry holds honorary doctorates from Curry College (Business Administration, 2022), Labouré College (Healthcare Administration, 2022), William James College (2023), and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Humane Letters, 2025).

He is an adjunct professor at New England Law Boston (teaching “Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession”) and Suffolk University’s Moakley Center and Sawyer School of Management (teaching health care management and policy). He is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist on civil rights and health policy issues.

In 2021, he created a 400-slide presentation titled “Quantum Leap” addressing the history of anti-Black racism in America from 1619 to today, connecting historical events to present-day inequities. He has presented this to over 70 organizations.

Michael Curry is father to: – Marcus Curry (30), graduate of St. John’s University, Account Manager at Boathouse – Michael Curry Jr. (22), senior at Norfolk State University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering – Malcolm Curry (17), rising Senior at Thayer Academy He is engaged to Julie Cabral, with wedding plans for September 2026.

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Rob McCarron

President & CEO,
AICUM

Rob McCarron serves as president and CEO of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICU Mass). In this role, McCarron leads advocacy…Read more

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James E. Rooney

President & CEO,
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

James E. Rooney is President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the region’s most influential business association. With Rooney’s…Read more

James E. Rooney is President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the region’s most influential business association.

With Rooney’s commitment and leadership, the Greater Boston Chamber is now the leading convener, voice, and advocate for the region. Strategizing with government leaders, private companies, and public institutions to strengthen the state’s competitiveness, Rooney advances the future of commerce with public policies and legislation that champions dynamic and resilient people, communities, and workplaces.

Before leading the Chamber, Rooney served as executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), overseeing the development and construction of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) while leading the management teams of four MCCA-owned facilities. Prior, Rooney served two years as Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, chairing the Mayor’s cabinet to move forward all aspects of city governance.

Rooney started his public career at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), starting as a track laborer and ending as Deputy General Manager. He served one year as the MBTA’s Acting General Manager during a gubernatorial transition. Using his transportation financing expertise, Rooney led one of the nation’s largest transportation projects, the $15 billion “Big Dig” Central Artery highway project, and he served as Chief Financial Officer at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

Rooney serves in leadership positions on several boards of directors, including the Committee of 100 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Co-Chair of the Madison Park Steering Committee, and Member of the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC). Rooney continues to be recognized for his professional and civic contributions, including being named to the list of 100 Most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine numerous times, receiving the City of Boston Lifetime Achievement Award for advocacy of the immigrant community, and he was honored with the PCMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the global meetings industry.

Born and raised in South Boston, Rooney attended the prestigious Boston Latin School, where he served as President of his graduating class. He graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and attended the Boston University Graduate School of Management.

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Agenda

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Registration & Networking

In-person guests arrive, sign in at registration, and network with fellow attendees.

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Program

For those joining us in-person and virtually, hear an address from Lee Huang, Principal, Econsult Solutions, Inc., followed by a panel conversation with top regional leaders discussing the role of universities and hospitals as key anchors of the Massachusetts economy.

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Audience Q&A

A chance to ask questions to the experts.

FAQs

What is included in my registration?

Access to a welcoming community of professionals over a great conversation and refreshments!

What should I bring?

An interest in connecting and networking with other professionals. Oh, and don’t forget business cards.

What should I wear?

Please come dressed for your day!

When should I arrive?

For in-person, registration begins a 1:30 p.m., with program starting promptly at 2:00 p.m.

Note: If attending virtually you will be sent the link to join ahead of the program which will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Do I need to register in advance?

We recommend registering in advance to secure your spot! We have a limited number of in-person tickets available due to capacity limits.

Partners

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

265 Franklin Street, 17th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

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This is a free event but if you can no longer attend please notify us so we can open up spots for other guests.

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce encourages persons with disabilities to participate, and engage fully, in its programs and events.

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including but not limited to, listening devices, closed captioning, large print, wheelchair access, allergies and environmental sensitivities, or if you have any questions about the venue, event format, or virtual platform, please contact us at [email protected].

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Get Involved

Become a Member

About Us

Get to Know the Chamber

Member Benefits

Grow Your Business

Membership Directory

Not Sure if You’re a Member?

Events & Networking

WHAT’S NEXT

Upcoming Events

Engage & Learn

FEATURED EVENT

Series

2025 Government Affairs Forum | State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMING:

Member Engagement

Inside the Program: Info Session & Cocktail Reception

Membership Directory

Not Sure if You’re a Member?

Upcoming Events

Stay Involved

Talent & Workforce

City Awake

Boston’s Future Leaders

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Strategic Communication for Better Collaboration

Partnership with Boston Public Schools

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

Talent

Transportation

Foundation

Our Mission

Expanding Opportunity