Joy Curtis Receives 2025 Health Sector Management Distinguished Alumni Award

Boston University Questrom School of Business is proud to announce Joy Curtis, MBA, Health Sector Management, as the 2025 recipient of the Health Sector Management (HSM) Distinguished Alumni Award. This special recognition, nominated and approved unanimously by the Health Sector faculty, honors alumni who have made significant contributions and demonstrated exceptional achievement in the health sector.

Since 2012, Joy served Chief Human Resources Officer at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard affiliated healthcare system which employees 5000 staff and providers. She is responsible for Human Resources Operations, Labor and Employee Relations, Organizational Development and Learning, Wellness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multi-cultural Affairs, including Interpreter Services, Transporter and Front Desk staff.

Prior to joining CHA, Joy was President and Founding Principal of the Human Resources consulting firm, Innovative Solutions HR, LLC. Relying on her extensive background as a human resources executive, Joy worked directly with client organizations in analyzing their needs, developing credible and successful leaders and managers, designing effective human resources infrastructure, leading human resources departments on an interim basis, coaching executives to realize their greatest potential, coaching clients and solving business problems Clients included Partners Health Care System (now MGB), Harvard University, Bryn Mawr College, New England Sports Network (NESN), Winchester Hospital and Ropes & Gray.

From 2005 until 2009, Joy served as the Chief People Office (CPO) at the international law firm, Ropes & Gray LLP where she founded “the People Organization”. In 2009, the firm was voted the best firm to work for in the Vault Survey.

Prior to founding Innovative Solutions, Ms. Curtis was Vice President, Human Resources at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Connecticut and at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts

Ms. Curtis earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Yale University and her MBA in the Healthcare Management Sector, with high honors, from Boston University.

Joy has served as an Adjunct Professor at University of Massachusetts, Lowell in the Health Informatics and Management graduate program. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Care Dimensions, a leading provider of hospice and palliative care. She also is a mentor for participants in Conexion’s mid-level professional program and for Questrom School of Business Healthcare Management Sector MBA students.

In her spare time, she follows her passion for animals by working with animal rescue groups and is a founder and a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Union for Siberian Huskies, Inc. (MUSH).

The Health Sector Management faculty’s unanimous selection of Joy Curtis reflects not only her professional excellence and leadership in healthcare but also her enduring commitment to developing people, fostering inclusion, and advancing the field of human resources within the health sector. Congratulations to Joy Curtis on this well-deserved recognition.