The Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Philip W. Johnston Health Policy Forum

Johnston Health Policy Forum Launch Reception

Graphic representation of Phil Johnston
  • Date/Time: Thursday, April 16, 5-7PM ET
  • Location: The UMass Club, One Beacon St, 32nd floor, Boston, MA 02108

Please join friends, colleagues, and members of the Massachusetts health policy community for a reception honoring the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Phil Johnston, and for the official dedication and renaming of the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum in his honor.

Phil’s family chose the Forum as the enduring home for his name and legacy, believing that honoring Phil through the Forum best reflects the work he cared about most – thoughtful dialogue, public service, and mentorship of the next generation.

The Johnston Health Policy Forum will continue Phil’s legacy by serving as a trusted, nonpartisan space where policymakers, researchers, and health system leaders engage with rigorous evidence on the most pressing challenges in health policy. Looking ahead, the Forum will expand its impact by deepening research capacity and launching new opportunities to support and mentor the next generation of health policy leaders.

Proceeds from the event will support and strengthen the Forum Phil led for more than 25 years.

Please RSVP by Monday April 6, 2026.

Questions? Please contact Kathy Cook at ucookka@brandeis.edu or 781-736-3964.

Special Guests/Speakers

Senator Edward Markey

Senator Edward Markey

Marty Meehan

Marty Meehan

Joseph Kennedy III

Joseph Kennedy III

Event Committee in Formation:

Mark Augusti Scott Ford Kerry Kennedy  Shannon O'Brien
Rob Barber Bob Gibbons Matt Kennedy  Brian O'Connor
Jarrett Barrios Patrick Gilligan Max Kennedy Quentin Palfrey
Cheryl Bartlett Tom Glynn Don Knight Jim Roosevelt
Carlo Basile Michael Goldman Alison Knight Meredith Rosenthal
Julie Burns Paul Guzzi Dan Koh Dana Safran
Frank Callahan Emmet Hayes Howard Koh Jeffrey Sanchez
Jim Cantwell Jim Healey Celeste Lee Audrey Shelto
Ellen Cohen Christopher Healey Mary Kay Leonard Fredi Shonkoff
Sean Collins Jim Hooley Becky Levin Jim Smith
Jack Corrigan Jim Hunt Mark Levin Alan Solomont
Michael Costello Beverly Johnston Jenny Littlefield Don Stern
Michael Curry Bob Johnston Rick Lord Tim Sweeney
Jim Daiute Joanne Johnston Karen Lowenstein Donato Tramuto
Michael Doonan Priscilla Johnston Rob Manning Bill Van Faasen
Andrew Dreyfus Nancy Kaufman Danna Mauch Bennie Wiley
John Dukakis Joe Kennedy lll Mary McCarthy Frederica Williams
Michael Dukakis Joe Kennedy  John McDonough Lorraine Woods
Matt Fishman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Drew O'Brien Steve Kerrigan

Our Mission

The Johnston Health Policy Forum provides a trusted, nonpartisan space where policymakers, researchers, and health leaders engage with rigorous evidence on complex issues. Its value lies in its ability to inform legislative and policy dialogue, foster cross-sector collaboration, and translate research into action. The Forum’s accomplishments include helping forward policy responses to a range of challenges including behavioral health and substance use disorder, healthy aging, public health infrastructure, health access, and affordability.

As we officially dedicate and rename the forum after Phil Johnston, we can build upon his vision. This would expand the number and impact forums and analytic capacity. It will empower and inspire the next generation by supporting 50 annual Johnston fellows selected from schools of public health, medicine, nursing, and public policy. This will expand and build upon the current student health policy forum. In addition to the dedicated forum, students will be invited to all policy forums with networking opportunities throughout the year. In addition, one or two Johnston research assistants will be selected annually to provide them with additional experience and support the forum's work.