Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Codman Square Health Center--Dorchester, MA

Codman Square Health Center in downtown Dorchester, MA exemplifies how a health center can build and advocate for a healthy community. Established in 1979 by William J. Walczak and a local civic organization, the health center began with two physicians in the basement of an old library and a goal to revitalize the community and its commercial district. The health center’s core belief that the health of individuals, families and community are inextricably linked is tangible in its programs, services and community-level advocacy. The most impressive and large-scale change the health center has made for the community is through improving its education system. The most impressive and large-scale change the health center has made for the community is through improving its education system as it recognized the correlation between health and education and identified a need for a stronger college preparatory system to stop the local cycles of poverty.

This case study is provided by Active Living By Design, an organization that delivers multidisciplinary expertise in public health, public policy, urban planning and design, community development, communications, nutrition, architecture and social work.