Page 20 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 3, 2026 CHA raises $1M-plus at record-setting Art of Healing Gala Honors Epic Founder/CEO Judy Faulkner for her philanthropic contributions Special to The Advocate A cademic community health system Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) raised more than $1 million at its annual Art of Healing Gala on June 5, 2026, at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Mass. The event, which was hosted by arts and entertainment critic Joyce Kulhawik, honored healthcare philanthropist Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Epic, with CHA’s annual Art of Healing Award. Proceeds from the evening will support CHA’s vision of equity and excellence for everyone, every time, helping CHA meet the health needs of patients across Cambridge, Somerville, Everett and Boston’s metro-north communities during one million visits a year. Judy Faulkner was recognized on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Greatest Innovators. Her vision guides how health systems use electronic health records to deliver safer, more connected care to the 325 million patients worldwide with a record in Epic. As an Epic customer for more than 20 years, CHA has pioneered innovations that strengthen care for its diverse patient population, including early adoption of MyChart in Spanish and Portuguese and the first full integration of Epic Video Client with interpreter services. “I am grateful for the wonderful collaboration between Epic and CHA and for this meaningful recognition,” said Judy. “We at Epic have great respect for the work CHA is doing and are aligned in our focus on compassion and innovation–doing good and helping to improve health care, not just today but for generations to come.” Through Epic’s charitable giving, the company has provided generous programmatic funding that advances patient care and expands access across CHA, particularly for patients who face barriers to care. This partnership has also been shaped by Judy’s personal commitment to expanding access to care for families with Epic Founder/CEO Judy Faulkner, winner of Cambridge Health Alliance’s 2026 Art of Healing Award. very young children, including her philanthropy through the Roots & Wings Foundation. Her longstanding dedication to innovation and community impact has helped strengthen initiatives that serve patients and families across the region. Support for CHA’s newly renovated Birth Center is the most recent example of this enduring commitment. “We are pleased to honor Judy Faulkner and thank her for two decades of support for CHA,” said CHA CEO Assaad Sayah, MD. “As we work to reimagine health care and build a stronger foundation for health in Massachusetts, it is fitting to celebrate Judy for her contributions to healthcare technology and her visionary leadership, innovation, and generosity.” This year’s event highlighted CHA’s commitment to innovating for good and imagining what’s possible in health care. CHA is expanding its robotic surgery program to CHA Everett Hospital, leveraging technology to provide more timely care while bringing providers closer to their patients, and adding capacity in behavioral health to help people struggling with anxiety, depression or mental illness. The Art of Healing Award celebrates visionary people who transcend boundaries, emFrom left to right: Cataldo Ambulance Service VP Dennis Cataldo, CHA Chief Development Officer Julie Sun, event emcee Joyce Kulhawik, CHA CEO Assaad Sayah, MD, and Mary Sayah brace humanity and inspire the healing of body and spirit. Past honorees include Marylou Sudders, former Mass. Secretary of Health and Human Services; Dr. Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering; John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence; and former Mass. Governor Michael Dukakis and Kitty Dukakis. CHA is an academic community health system committed to providing high-quality care in Boston’s metro-north communities. It includes two acute care hospital campuses, an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry specialty campus, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and robust community programs through its regional Department of Community Health and the Cambridge Public Health Department. As the sole public hospital in Massachusetts, CHA has expertise in primary care, specialty care and mental health and substance use services, as well as caring for diverse and complex populations. For more info, access https://www.challiance.org/. CHA CEO Assaad Sayah, MD (left) and Leadership Award recipients RoAnn Costin (center), Immediate Past Chair and current member of the CHA Foundation Board, and William Lahey (right), Chair of CHA’s Board of Trustees.
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