What hasn’t Eric W. Dickson done in the past year to show his influence as the leader of the largest employer in Central Mass., with 14,000 workers?
Early during the coronavirus pandemic, he pledged no layoffs or furloughs despite the financial hit to UMass Memorial. He gave $500 bonuses to caregivers, was on the forefront of local business leaders in touting the importance of diversity, equity & inclusion, donated his salary during the initial peak for employee assistance, and enrolled in an early COVID-19 vaccine study to prove his confidence in the science.
UMass provides $200 million annually to support the state’s medical school and another $200 million to support healthcare programs and charitable initiatives. In April, UMass dropped the “Care” from the end of its name to demonstrate a more holistic approach, with the tagline: The Relentless Pursuit of Healing.
What do you think the future holds for Central Mass.? “The future can be bright, but it must be that way for everyone. We must be a more inclusive society. Education, medicine, and the biosciences will continue to power the region’s economy, and I believe we will emerge from the pandemic even stronger.”
Sports icon: He was a competitive wrestler in school.
