Raquel Belforti Named Regional Executive Dean of UMass Chan-Baystate

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Raquel Belforti, DO, MS, associate professor of medicine, has accepted the position of regional executive dean of UMass Chan-Baystate. With this appointment, Dr. Belforti has been named the chief academic officer for Baystate Health.

“Medical education is not simply a professional responsibility; it is one of my greatest joys,” Belforti said. “The privilege of shaping the next generation of physicians, of watching students evolve from eager learners into confident, compassionate clinicians, is a calling I do not take lightly.”

In her new role, Belforti will be responsible for all aspects of the UMass Chan-Baystate regional campus and Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) track of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine. PURCH is a specialized medical degree track for students who want to practice medicine in diverse, underserved urban and rural communities. 

Belforti, who has been instrumental in the success of PURCH since 2017, said, “It is a profound privilege to lead and oversee PURCH and the UMass Chan-Baystate campus alongside an exceptional group of colleagues, whose dedication and expertise make this work both meaningful and extraordinary.”

“The PURCH track provides an innovative and community engaged medical education curriculum that prepares students to become thoughtful, effective leaders equipped with the knowledge, skills and mindset to lead with empathy, deliver high-quality care and advocate for the needs of patients and communities impacted by complex health challenges.”

Since 2023, Belforti has served as UMass Chan-Baystate’s associate dean of education. She is the director of Baystate Health’s Physician Leadership Academy; and co-director of Mentors Matter, a peer-mentoring program for interdepartmental faculty at UMass Chan-Baystate. She was recently appointed to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Curriculum, Assessment, Instruction, and Research Group steering committee.

Belforti earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and a Master of Science from the University of New England. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. She received her undergraduate degree from Assumption University in Worcester.