In 1981, William and Charlotte Newcomb established a family trust to provide for loved ones, protect their assets, and ensure the bright future of healthcare for two organizations they loved, including Baystate Franklin Medical Center. Over the years, they built their life in Los Angeles while still, over four decades, keeping their legacy gift to Baystate Franklin in their plans. With William’s passing in 2023, Baystate Health Foundation recently received a transformative gift from the estate, committing a million dollars of the gift to the establishment of the Newcomb Endowed Chair of Family Medicine.
This endowed chair enhances Baystate Health’s ability to attract and retain distinguished faculty and/or clinical leadership to the Family Medicine Residency Program at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. The fund also delivers sustained income to take bold and innovative steps in education and training to prepare family physicians to care for the disproportionately impacted, rural populations of the area and to be the family physicians their communities need and deserve.
Dr. Robert Baldor, founding Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Baystate Health and Professor of Family Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate, is the inaugural chairholder, and will use the funds to recruit primary care family physicians to Franklin County and for the professional faculty development of those who will continue provide high-quality medical education in Greenfield, with the ultimate goal of bringing the best care to the community.
“Even as they built their lives in California, the Newcombs demonstrated an unwavering belief in the importance of compassionate, quality, and accessible care in Franklin County,” shared Dr. Baldor. “I wish we had the honor of getting to know William and Charlotte personally to thank them for their visionary gift and to share how we will steward their legacy for generations to come. Their gift fuels the continued growth and excellence of Baystate Franklin’s academic and clinical mission and Baystate Health’s continued commitment to the health and well-being of Franklin County and beyond.”
To learn more about the Family Medicine Program at Baystate Health, visit: Baystate Health Family Medicine Department
To learn more about Endowed Funds at Baystate Health visit: Support the Baystate Health Endowment