Dr. Mark Keroack and Dr. Ann Errichetti Create Endowed Fund to Support Future of Healthcare

Each day, healthcare is changing. The pace is rapid, and the work is life-changing. It takes a special person to decide to dedicate their career to caring for others.

Dr. Mark A. Keroack is one of those special people. He and his wife, Dr. Ann Errichetti, have created the Mark A. Keroack, MD Endowed Chair of Medicine to support the work and efforts of the next generation of physicians being trained at Baystate Health through the Department of Medicine. The announcement was shared during Baystate Health Foundation’s Evening of Gratitude, during which Dr. Keroack celebrates Baystate Health donors.

This endowed fund will support the work of the chair of the Department of Medicine, which is comprised of General Medicine and Community Health, and Hospital Medicine, as well as multiple medical specialties, including Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Nephrology, Endocrine and Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care. The fund can be used, at the chair’s discretion, to fund capital, education, research, or patient care initiatives to support excellence within the department. This opportunity will provide both educational and clinical experiences to enhance leadership capabilities across the team.

“Ann and I both trained in internal medicine in the 1980s,” says Dr. Keroack. “She went on to specialize in cardiology and I in infectious diseases. We both were drawn to medicine’s challenging puzzles and complex care issues. Though we each transitioned to the CEO role, our training and years of practice in the specialties of medicine remains part of the core of who we are. We hope our gift will allow the Chair of Medicine, the largest clinical department at Baystate Health, to help members of the department develop skills and increase learning for generations to come.”

The inaugural holder of this title is Dr. Sarah Haessler, who has served as chair of the Department of Medicine since 2022. Dr. Haessler has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her expertise in infectious disease and played an integral role at Baystate Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dr. Keroack and I have a shared passion for physician leadership development and have partnered for many years to run Baystate’s Physician Leadership Academy, an intensive training program for mid-career physicians who are early in a leadership role. With the funds from the endowed chair, I have partnered with the Associate Dean of Education at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate to design and implement a junior physician leadership development program within the Department of Medicine, named the Mark A. Keroack Department of Medicine Leadership Institute,” shared Dr. Haessler. “This program will engage young and emerging physician leaders to prepare them for leadership roles, resulting in skillful execution of clinical programs, improved patient experience, and a mechanism to build the pipeline for physician leaders at Baystate Health.”

Dr. Keroack announced his retirement from Baystate Health in 2023 after 13 years serving the health system, with the last 10 years as president and CEO. This fund will carry on his legacy of leadership, mentorship, and clinical care, while supporting the future physicians who will train at Baystate Health. A fitting tribute to a leader who cared for, mentored, and guided so many during his tenure.