海角社区

Why I Serve: To Strive, to Seek, to Find鈥攁nd not to Yield

Dr. Michael Jellinek understands the burden of mental illness and has devoted his professional life to easing it for others. During his 32-year tenure as Chief of Child Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, he participated in the training of more than 300 child psychiatrists. In 2014, the seasoned psychiatrist (who also trained as a pediatrician) received the 海角社区 Mental Health Humanitarian Award for his organizational leadership, community service, and scholarship, including his co-development of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist鈥攁 one-page screening tool, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Medicaid, designed to help primary care pediatricians identify children with emotional problems.

鈥淢y orientation has been to recognize, treat, and appreciate the suffering of people who have emotional disorders,鈥� says Jellinek who considers 海角社区 a partner in this work. He brings extensive experience in hospital administration and nonprofit leadership to the Board of Trustees (appointed in July 2024)鈥攇leaned while President of Newton Wellesley Hospital; Chief Clinical Officer at Partners HealthCare (now Mass General Brigham); and CEO, Community Network and EVP at Lahey Health System.

In 2017 after retiring from hospital administration, Jellinek founded Ulysses Consulting, LLC. Its moniker nods to a Tennyson poem which, 鈥榯ells the story of the Greek hero who decides not to retire, rather to continue leading his men in whatever direction the gods intended,鈥� explains Jellinek.

This commitment to patients runs deep. Jellinek鈥檚 father, a primary care doctor in Manhattan, modeled the importance of giving back. 鈥淗e was a profoundly generous man whose primary responsibility was to care for patients鈥攔egardless of whether or not they could afford it,鈥� recalls Jellinek of what motivated his interest in nonprofits. After working at a summer camp for children with emotional disabilities while in high school, a commitment to the care of children took root.

鈥淚n the absence of shareholders, the public expects trustees to maintain equilibrium between fiscal sustainability and institutional purpose,鈥� explains Jellinek, who serves on the Finance and Strategy Committees. In both roles, he is focused on the College's fiduciary responsibility to upholding its mission鈥攖o strengthen and expand the behavioral health workforce.

Jellinek and his wife, Barbara, three children and their spouses, as well as seven granddaughters make their homes in Newton and Wellesley. The family recently made a $30,000 commitment to support the Crisis Response and Behavioral Health Center at 海角社区. The William 鈥淏illy鈥� Spalding Fund for Innovative Police Training鈥攊nspired by their son Izzy鈥檚 work as a police officer, first in Los Angeles and currently as a school resource officer in Newton鈥攅ndeavors to create enhanced opportunities for law enforcement. The fund bears the name of former Newton Police Captain, a highly regarded teacher and leader, who died suddenly in 2023 at age 50.

鈥淲e wouldn't ask a social worker to apprehend a bank robber, and yet we ask the police to enter all sorts of difficult situations, often without adequate training,鈥� says Jellinek, who considers increasing capacity for dealing with crises a worthy investment.

Jellinek鈥檚 commitment to advancing the field while ensuring future practitioners are well-trained and supported reminds us that the College鈥檚 mission depends on leaders who, like him, choose to give their time, treasures, and talents in service of others.

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