Digger and Susan Donahue
Susan and Douglas “Digger” Donahue have made a generous gift to establish the Susan and Digger Donahue Chief Executive Office Chair. Among the nation’s first endowed leadership positions for a safety-net hospital, this chair will sustain and secure bold visionary leadership at BMC Health System for years to come.
Twenty years ago, Susan and Digger Donahue walked through the doors of BMC for the first time. Former Board Chairman Marshall “Marsh” Carter had arranged the introduction, convinced the couple would see what he saw: a hospital doing something different, urgent, and important.
Digger recalls Marsh’s pitch: You want to join a board committed to social justice, not social climbing.
He was right. The Donahues were drawn to BMC’s innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to caring for the whole person, not just treating illness. Programs like Reach Out and Read and the Preventive Food Pantry—groundbreaking at the time and now replicated nationally—showed them an organization that understands achieving good health requires much more than routine office visits. BMC’s definition of good health—access to healthy food, safe housing, and opportunities for economic growth—resonated with the couple.
“We’ve had the privilege of giving to many institutions, but the power of this institution’s persistence, expertise, and commitment is inspiring.” — Susan Donahue
“Social determinants are a huge part of someone’s overall health,” Susan notes. “BMC wraps its arms around patients, addressing their medical and social challenges with comprehensive programs that go above and beyond providing traditional care.”
A Critical Moment
America’s healthcare system stands at a turning point. Rising costs, a flawed payment structure, a scarcity of primary care physicians, and a model built on treating sick people rather than maintaining health have created unprecedented strain.
“Something has to change,” Digger says, “and BMC is breaking ground with new models and approaches that have potential to transform the system at large.”
The Donahues also see this gift as an investment in stability during turbulent times—flexible support that will help BMC’s leadership navigate uncertainty, push boundaries, and light a path for others.
Champions at Work
Susan has become an integral part of BMC and a vocal patient advocate. An Emeritus Board member, she served on the BMC board from 2006 to 2015 on multiple committees including audit, governance, and nominating. Most notably, she served on the search committee that recruited former BMC President Kate Walsh and became a trusted confidant as Walsh guided BMC through the COVID-19 pandemic, financial challenges, and a campus redesign.
Susan and Digger have been instrumental in expanding BMC’s philanthropic reach. An inaugural member of what is now the Philanthropic Trust, she helped grow it from three supporters into a thriving committee. Together, they’ve shared BMC’s mission with other like-minded philanthropists, securing millions in additional funding. Susan has chaired countless BMC events over the years, from BMC Seasons to Strikes for Tykes—the latter particularly memorable when her family met then New England quarterback Tom Brady, an evening she still recalls with a smile.
Perhaps most meaningful for Susan is the Cancer Survivors’ Luncheon. When resources were scarce, she secured donations for flowers, entertainment, transportation, and food, creating an annual celebration that now draws 200 cancer survivors—a testament to her belief that every patient deserves to be honored.
Leadership Runs Deep
Having witnessed three CEOs and countless clinical champions rise over two decades, the Donahues believe BMC’s leadership depth is unparalleled. They understand that maintaining it is both challenging and critical for an organization of BMC’s caliber and complexity.
Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, President and CEO of BMC Health System, is the inaugural chair holder of this endowed position. Bell joined BMC in 2012 and has since guided the system through significant expansion, including the recent acquisition of two Steward Health Care hospitals. As he confronts potential changes to insurance coverage for a large portion of BMC patients, the endowment provides stability to make bold patient-centered decisions and navigate a rapidly changing environment with more freedom.
“I am grateful for this remarkable show of support from two champions who truly understand what BMC Health System stands for,” Bell says. “Their investment in our leadership infrastructure arrives at a critical time when essential hospitals are navigating an increasingly challenging financial landscape. It enhances our ability to drive innovation and strengthens our capacity to serve the patients and communities who rely on us, ensuring we can continue to deliver high-quality, compassionate healthcare.”
Opening the Doors
The Donahues support many of the region’s leading organizations, but BMC continues to hold a special place in their hearts. They believe that those new to BMC just need that first encounter, that initial step inside. From there, the work speaks for itself.
“We hope that part of the value of attaching our name to a gift is that it encourages others to make the same investment,” Susan says. “We’ve had the privilege of giving to many institutions, but the power of this institution’s persistence, expertise, and commitment is inspiring. We are humbled and pleased to be a part of BMC’s dynamic journey.”
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