March 20, 2019 (CAMBRIDGE, MA) – The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio®) today announced that Joseph Finn, Fire Commissioner and Chief of the Boston Fire Department, will receive the first-ever State of Possible Award. The award will be presented by Morgan Stanley during an evening celebration at MassBio’s 2019 Annual Meeting, now the State of Possible Conference, on March 27th.
This annual award was created to honor individuals who have contributed significantly to the well-being of Massachusetts’ citizens. Eligible recipients must represent an organization with a commitment to bettering or protecting Massachusetts residents’ lives and/or their Massachusetts employees, be a leader in their communities, and create possibilities for the future of Massachusetts. Commissioner Finn’s leadership as Fire Commissioner goes above and beyond these criteria.
“Commissioner Finn’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of Boston’s firefighters, as they risk their lives to protect the residents of Massachusetts, has created systemic change to the culture of one of the nation’s oldest fire departments,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio. “It is truly an honor to recognize his efforts to reduce cancer rates among firefighters and ensure those that are battling cancer have access to the lifesaving therapies they need.”
Commissioner Finn has taken what he implemented in Boston and spread these learnings around the state and the country to ensure a brighter future for all firefighters. He’s set a standard for other cities to follow and has dispelled the notion that there is no way to reduce cancer rates for those that risk their lives every day to keep residents safe. It’s his civic leadership in Boston and across the state that is creating future possibilities for the next generation of firefighters who can continue to protect the residents of Massachusetts without putting their own lives at risk.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the first-ever State of Possible Award from MassBio. With 34 years as a career firefighter, I have sadly witnessed firsthand the devastation of occupational cancer amongst the fire service. As the Fire Commissioner and Chief of the Boston Fire Department, I am deeply committed to raising cancer awareness within the fire service, and finding ways to reduce cancer rates among our firefighters,” said Joseph Finn, Fire Commissioner and Chief of Boston Fire Department. “I am grateful for MassBio’s continued leadership in the life sciences industry to help us in our fight against these devastating diseases.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join MassBio as they honor the commitment Commissioner Finn has made to Massachusetts during the MassBio State of Possible Celebration on Wednesday, March 27th at the Museum of Science. A ticket to the celebration is included with registration to the State of Possible Conference. Interested attendees can also register for just the Celebration here.
Media can register for the State of Possible Conference for free by emailing Jennifer Nason.