Judy Bigby, MD

Dr. Judy Bigby is a physician, public health advocate, and policy maker who has dedicated her career to advancing health for vulnerable populations. Appointed by former Governor Deval Patrick, Dr. Bigby served as Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2013. In her role, Dr. Bigby was responsible for implementing many aspects of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law.

Dr. Bigby previously served as the Director of Community Health Programs and Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She also served as the director of the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School. At Harvard Medical School, she focused on initiatives to reduce disparities in infant mortality, breast cancer, and cervical cancer through the redesign of clinical programs, education of health professionals, and community partnerships.

Dr. Bigby is the former Executive Director of South Africa Partners, a U.S.-based organization providing technical assistance to South African governmental agencies, academics, and communities to improve primary care health systems, advance leadership skills among health care managers, and implement community-based early education. She was a Senior Fellow at Mathematica, a policy-focused research firm, where she focused on strategies to improve quality in state Medicaid programs.

Dr. Bigby serves on the board of directors of South Africa Partners, Share Our Strength, American Civil Liberties Union Massachusetts, and Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. She holds an M.D. from Harvard Medical School and a B.S. in biology from Wellesley College. She holds honorary degrees from Lesley University, Pine Manor College, and the New England School of Law.