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to Stage Presents: Dr. Jim O’Connell in conversation with Rob Cocuzzo.
Event Information:
DR. JAMES
J. O’CONNELL
A native of Newport, Rhode Island, Dr.
Jim O’Connell graduated from the University
of Notre Dame in 1970 and received a
master’s degree in theology
from Cambridge University in 1972. After
earning an M.D. from Harvard
Medical School in 1982, he completed a
residency in Internal Medicine at
Massachusetts General Hospital.
O’Connell began full-time clinical work
with homeless individuals as a founding
physician of the Boston Health
Care for the Homeless Program in 1985.
Under his leadership, BHCHP has grown to
be a vital and dynamic
presence in the continuum of care for
poor and marginalized populations
in Boston and has pioneered many
innovations, including the nation’s first
medical respite program in 1985, the
transition to funding as a federally
qualified health center in 1988, and
implementation of the first electronic
medical record for a health care for the
homeless program in collaboration
with the Laboratory of Computer Science
of MGH in 1996. Dr. O’Connell
shares a particular passion for the care
of “rough sleepers,” and street medicine
has been integral to BHCHP’s model of
care since 1985. He currently
juggles a busy clinical role on the
program’s street team with his duties as
President of BHCHP.
The recipient of many prizes and awards,
including the Albert
Schweitzer Humanitarian Award in 2012
and The Trustees’ Medal at the
bicentennial celebration of MGH in 2011,
Dr. O’Connell is Assistant Professor
of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
He has lectured internationally,
and his research has been published in a
broad array of journals. He lives
with his family in Dorchester, Massachusetts.