Spaulding’s Dr. Cheri Blauwet Recognized by Inaugural Forbes ‘Accessibility 100’
Dr. Blauwet selected as one of the top 100 impact-makers globally in promoting accessibility for people with disabilities
Boston, MA – Forbes announced today that Cheri Blauwet, MD, of Spaulding Rehabilitation and Mass General Brigham is part of a select group of people and companies who have been recognized as leaders, advocates and innovators for advancing global accessibility. The Forbes’ new Accessibility 100 aims to elevate and celebrate the top 100 impact-makers in the world of accessibility for people with disabilities. Those recognized are innovators and world-changing thought leaders in fields including consumer products, education, law and legal protections, sports, technological advancement, marketing, the workplace, the arts, healthcare, and more. Blauwet was selected for her work as a physician scientist advancing interventions to enhance sport and physical activity participation and chronic disease prevention for individuals with disabilities--who comprise 20%-25% of the adult population or approximately 1 billion people globally--as well as her leadership in enhancing equity for athletes with disabilities across the Paralympic movement.
"Dr. Blauwet is a true trailblazer, consistently advancing equality for people of all abilities and empowering them to achieve their dreams and optimize their health through sport and physical activity,” said David F.M Brown, MD, president, academic medical centers, Mass General Brigham. “As a distinguished clinician, researcher, mentor and leader, she has set an extraordinary global standard. We at Mass General Brigham are deeply inspired by her leadership and feel incredibly fortunate to call her a colleague and friend."
Dr. Blauwet serves as Spaulding’s chief medical officer as well as the interim chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. She is also the founding director of the Kelley Adaptive Sports Research Institute where she has advanced a prolific and robust research portfolio. She is a former Paralympic athlete in wheelchair racing, competing for the United States team in three Paralympic Games and bringing home a total of seven medals. She is also a two-time winner of both the Boston and New York City Marathons.
“Ensuring athletes with disabilities have equal recognition in sport and opportunities to promote their personal health is a guiding principle for my life and work. This recognition both validates these efforts and energizes me to continue to serve as a leading global voice in advancing this mission,” said Dr. Blauwet.
Dr. Blauwet is a recognized leader global sports, serving as a Member of the International Paralympic Committee’s Medical Committee, the International Olympic Committee Medical & Scientific Commission, and the Paralympic Advisory Council for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). She additionally serves as Chair of the Board for the Boston Athletic Association (Boston Marathon).
“All of us at Spaulding are so proud to count Dr. Blauwet as a colleague and know, from seeing her dedication and focus each and every day, how deserving she is of this recognition. We look forward to following her leadership and ensuring we at Spaulding and Mass General Brigham are at the forefront of inclusion and equality for people of all abilities that we are honored to serve,” said Greg Jackson, president, Spaulding Rehabilitation.
About Spaulding Rehabilitation
A member of the Mass General Brigham Health System, Spaulding Rehabilitation includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, with a main campus in Charlestown the 3rd ranked in the nation for rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report, along with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cambridge, Spaulding Rehabilitation Nursing and Therapy Center Brighton, and over 25 outpatient sites throughout Eastern Massachusetts. An acclaimed teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and home to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding is recognized as a top residency program in the U.S. in the Doximity Residency Navigator.” For more information, visit www.spauldingrehab.org.
Media Contact
Contact: Tim Sullivan
617-501-5985
tsullivan11@mgb.org