Recorded presentation

Linda M. Cundiff, RN, MSN, Senior Director, Community Affairs, Cambridge Health Alliance, c/o Somerville Hospital, 230 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143, 617-591-6935, lcundiff@challiance.org

Cambridge Health Alliance is a public health hospital system that includes three public hospitals and a public health department. Its mission is improving the health of the people of Cambridge, Somerville, and Everett, Massachusetts. Ms. Cundiff has led community benefit activities for 15 years, beginning at a private, nonprofit community hospital with a public health mission. Her department’s role is well established as the lead for collaborating with the community and internal hospital services to create a platform for program development leading to improved health status. Her experience provides a unique perspective on how a public hospital system can work with internal and external stakeholders to address community needs, especially the needs of underserved residents of the region, including many immigrant communities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will

• Be familiar with both traditional and expanded definitions of "community benefit," (
• understand some of the problematic questions involved in community benefit, (
• be familiar with some leading programs and practices, (
• be familiar with perspectives toward community benefit held by different stakeholders.

Keywords: Accountability, Community Benefits

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Cambridge Health Alliance
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment

Recorded presentation