Story #91: Debra Stulberg, MHASP Alum and Chair of Family Medicine at UChicago

Dr. Debra Stulberg ‘95, MD, is currently the Chair of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago. As an Associate Professor and a leader in her field, Dr. Stulberg’s work is deeply influenced by her formative experiences at PBHA, where she served as Program Director for the Mission Hill AfterSchool Program. As chair now, she advocates for systemic change in health care while fostering an environment of compassion and equity. Dr. Stulberg’s career has focused on addressing structural barriers to health and well-being, and she credits her time at PBHA with shaping her philosophy on service and leadership. As she shared in PBHA’s 2023 Alumni Survey":

“The experiences of the children and families I met through the Mission Hill AfterSchool Program continue to motivate what kind of physician I am, and how I try to advocate for my patients in the face of structural barriers to their thriving,” - Debra Stulberg

Her experiences at PBHA gave her her first true leadership roles, guiding her to take on responsibility for programs that directly impacted others.

“Serving as a Program Director and then a Board member at PBHA were my first experiences of leadership and real responsibility over activities that affect others.” - Debra Stulberg

These roles, combined with PBHA’s immersive and reflective service model, provided her with invaluable training in leadership and social responsibility. For Dr. Stulberg, PBHA helped define the distinction between "charity" and "doing good well," emphasizing the importance of building relationships and advocating for systemic change.

“People with resources and privilege need to use these to advocate for structural change…only by investing in relationships and having something at stake will those of us with privilege be willing to take some risk to change the system.” - Debra Stulberg

Dr. Stulberg credits PBHA with cultivating her sense of leadership and self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of seeking guidance when needed while also taking on responsibility.

“The most valuable competency that PBHA helped develop in me is leadership. Specifically, taking on responsibilities while also recognizing my limits and seeking help, support, and guidance when needed.” - Debra Stulberg

Her time with PBHA not only provided her with a structured way to engage with communities in Boston, but also gave her the opportunity to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds, further deepening her understanding of the intersection between privilege, community, and the work needed to create lasting change. PBHA is incredibly proud of Dr. Stulberg’s commitment to creating more equitable and just systems in health care and we are amazed to see how her mentoring experiences shaped her career.