WORCESTER, Mass.—UMass Chan Medical School, in collaboration with the Last Call Foundation, will host a lecture on firefighter mental health on Friday, March 14. The event aims to highlight the unique stressors firefighters encounter, which can contribute to addiction and mental health challenges.
The lecture is part of a broader education and research initiative funded by a $200,000 donation from the Last Call Foundation. The endowment will support medical education, including standardized patient interactions with firefighters, research on firefighter health, and an ongoing lecture series.
“Firefighters face a significantly higher risk of occupational cancers, suicide, and mental health disorders,” said Dr. Timothy Boardman, assistant professor of emergency medicine at UMass Chan. “Primary care physicians need to recognize these occupational health risks, and a medical school with a strong focus on prevention is well-positioned to partner with the Last Call Foundation in raising awareness.”
The Last Call Foundation was established by Kathy Crosby-Bell in memory of her son, firefighter Michael Kennedy, who, along with Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh, lost his life battling a nine-alarm fire in Boston’s Back Bay on March 26, 2014.
Jason Burns, executive director of the Last Call Foundation and a firefighter in Fall River, emphasized the program’s significance. “This initiative will give medical students, nurses, and doctors firsthand insight into the challenges firefighters face. Our risks are different from those of the general public. Firefighters will also gain skills to better communicate with their healthcare providers and advocate for their own well-being.”
Worcester Fire Department Assistant Chief Adam Roche echoed the importance of the partnership. “Educating both firefighters and medical professionals on mental and physical health is crucial for maintaining a resilient workforce,” he said. “Programs like this enhance awareness and equip caregivers with a deeper understanding of the stressors first responders endure. It also provides firefighters with tools to process traumatic experiences and return to both work and home life in a healthy state.”
The inaugural lecture, part of the Last Call Foundation Lecture Series: Firefighter Mental Health, is hosted by the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine at UMass Chan. The event is open to firefighters, first responders, medical students, and healthcare professionals.
Scheduled to take place from 3–5 p.m. in the Albert Sherman Center auditorium at UMass Chan, the session will feature speakers Dr. Michael Hamrock, a former firefighter and department physician for the Boston Fire Department, now a primary care and addiction medicine specialist at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, and retired Boston Fire Department Lieutenant William Ostiguy. They will discuss best practices for medical professionals working with firefighters and address barriers first responders face in accessing mental health and addiction services.
Related Topics:
