NeighborHealth's Top Workplace Award Links Staff Well-being to Community Care

REVERE, Mass. – April 09, 2026 – NeighborHealth, the largest federally qualified community health system in Massachusetts, has earned a prestigious national honor, being named a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplace. The award is not a result of a panel of judges, but a direct reflection of the organization's 1,700 team members, whose confidential feedback cemented its status as a leading employer.

This recognition highlights a core principle at NeighborHealth: that exceptional patient care for its 120,000 patients is intrinsically linked to a supportive, engaging, and empowering environment for its staff. The award validates the organization's long-standing, people-first philosophy in a demanding industry, demonstrating a successful model for organizational excellence.

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes directly from our team," said Jamie Hazard, President and CEO of NeighborHealth. "Our team members are at the heart of everything we do, and their dedication is what allows us to deliver the high-quality, compassionate care that our patients depend on every day. Building a supportive and inclusive workplace is core to our mission and what makes our impact possible, helping us expand access, improve outcomes, and better serve our community."

The Blueprint for a People-First Culture

The USA TODAY Top Workplaces award is managed by Energage, an HR technology and research firm that has been analyzing workplace culture for nearly two decades. The designation is based entirely on a research-backed employee engagement survey. To qualify, organizations must meet a minimum 35% response rate, ensuring the results are a true representation of the workforce. This year, NeighborHealth was one of 1,661 employers recognized from a pool of over 100,000 invited organizations.

"Earning a USA TODAY Top Workplaces award is a testament to an organization's credibility and commitment to a people-first culture," said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. He emphasized that the award is more than a badge of honor, calling it "proof that your employees believe in the organization and its leadership." Rubino added, "It signals a company that values its people, and that kind of culture resonates in today's competitive market."

NeighborHealth’s success is built on a foundation of tangible programs and a deeply embedded cultural ethos. The organization offers comprehensive benefits, including medical and dental coverage, a 401(K) retirement plan, and paid time off, but its commitment extends further. Employees have access to an Education & Training Institute, tuition reimbursement, and generous staff development benefits. This investment in professional growth fosters a skilled and motivated workforce.

Crucially, the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a cornerstone of its workplace environment. Over 50% of its staff come from the communities it serves, and 47% identify as Hispanic/Latino, closely mirroring a patient population where 65% identify as Hispanic/Latino. This alignment is reinforced through mandatory cultural humility training for all staff and the provision of interpreter services in 16 languages, reflecting a deep respect for the diverse backgrounds of both employees and patients.

From Employee Engagement to Clinical Excellence

The link between NeighborHealth's internal culture and its external impact is clear and measurable. The organization has been consistently recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a National Quality Leader, a designation reserved for the nation's top-performing health centers.

In 2025, NeighborHealth earned a Gold Badge from HRSA, placing it in the top 10% of community health centers nationwide for clinical quality. Its achievements are remarkably specific: it was also named a National Quality Leader for Cancer Screening, putting it in the top 1% of FQHCs nationally in that category, and received further recognition for its work in diabetes health and preventive care. This level of clinical performance is sustained by an engaged workforce dedicated to patient outcomes.

Patient satisfaction scores further validate this approach, with over 90% of surveyed patients reporting satisfaction with their care—a figure that surpasses national benchmarks. This success is rooted in an innovative care model that extends beyond the clinic's walls. NeighborHealth actively addresses the social drivers of health, connecting patients with resources for food, housing, childcare, and legal assistance. This holistic approach is central to its mission of bridging health equity gaps in the low-income and immigrant communities it predominantly serves, where 85% of patients live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and 27% are uninsured.

A National Model for Community Health

NeighborHealth’s achievement positions it as a standard-bearer within the vital network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). FQHCs are the nation's healthcare safety net, tasked with providing comprehensive primary care in underserved areas, regardless of a patient's ability to pay. These centers often operate under significant pressure, facing funding complexities and workforce challenges.

By earning a national Top Workplaces award, NeighborHealth demonstrates that FQHCs can not only provide life-saving care but also cultivate work environments that rival any in the nation, making them true employers of choice. The organization's history, born from the 50-year-old East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and expanded through a 2020 merger with the South End Community Health Center, shows a commitment to strategic growth to meet community needs.

Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week—a rarity for community health centers—NeighborHealth provides continuous access to care, including a full-service Emergency Department. This unwavering availability, combined with a culture that values and supports its employees, creates a resilient and highly effective healthcare system. This national recognition underscores a powerful truth for the healthcare industry: the most effective path to healing a community begins with caring for the people who serve it.