MAAP Coalition Meeting: Advancing Asthma Care: Emerging Therapies and Guidelines with Dr. Robyn Cohen

On February 5th, 2025, Dr. Robyn Cohen, a pediatric pulmonologist at Boston Medical Center, delivered a compelling presentation at the MAAP Coalition Meeting, "Advancing Asthma Care: Emerging Therapies and Guidelines." The session provided valuable insights into the latest developments in asthma management for children, with a focus on improving care for all children, irrespective of their clinic attendance. 

Dr. Cohen discussed her work with WellSense and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to bridge asthma care gaps. She also shared her expertise on the recent updates to asthma medication guidelines, including the SMART (Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) and AIR (Anti-inflammatory Reliever) approaches. Dr. Cohen emphasized the need for targeted interventions to address asthma-related disparities, particularly in reducing emergency visits among children from minority communities. 

Key takeaways from the session include: 

• The 2020 asthma management updates, recommending a combination inhaler for moderate persistent asthma to streamline treatment. 

• The importance of regular asthma assessments and clarifying common confusion around inhaler use. 

• Dr. Cohen’s insights on biologics for severe asthma patients, highlighting how these treatments target the root causes of symptoms and improve patient outcomes. 

The session also covered efforts by MassHealth WellSense ACO to enhance asthma management, access to biologics for Medicaid patients, and the services offered by the Boston Public Health Commission. 

HEAL Districts Present at the MAAP Coalition Meeting!

On December 4th, 2024, the HEAL districts hosted a dynamic presentation at the MAAP Coalition Meeting, “From Policies to Practice: How Schools Are Adapting for Asthma-Friendly Learning.” This meeting brought together key stakeholders to share the innovative ways in which schools are implementing asthma-friendly policies and practices. The districts presented their strategies for improving environmental health conditions and highlighted the short-term actions and policies they are piloting to support students with asthma. 

To learn more about the projects and the valuable insights shared, you can watch the full recording of the meeting and access the presentation materials [here]. 

Additionally, the following key resources were shared during the session: 

• Strategic Plan for Asthma in MA  

• MDPH's & MAAP's Clearing the Air Toolkit 

• MAAP's HEAL Webpage, featuring links to HEAL Modules that are available for CEUs through NEUSHA. 

• Asthma: SMART Therapy & More, NIH 2020 Asthma Clinical Guideline Update, also available for CEUs through NEUSHA. 

• Lynn Public Schools Staff Handbook 

• Funding Opportunity: EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program 

For more specific guidance on extreme heat policies, the following resources were highlighted: 

• Holyoke Public Schools' Extreme Heat Policy and Resources 

• Tools from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB), designed to help districts manage extreme heat, including customizable policy templates for: 

• District Wellness Policy  

• Faculty and Staff Handbooks  

• Emergency Cancellation, Delay, and Early Dismissal Procedures 

lynn handbook

Holyoke Public Schools' Extreme Heat Policy and Resources 

Haverhill public schools, emergency action plan

new bedford heal presentation

MAAP Coalition Meeting: Understanding Air Quality: Insights from the Healthy Air Network

On October 2, 2024, the MAAP Coalition hosted a valuable session focused on local air quality issues, their impact on public health, and strategies to improve our environment. This meeting provided participants with insights into regional trends and findings, specifically from Western Massachusetts. 

The session featured expert presentations from Sarita Hudson of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Billy Spitzer from the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and Destiny Gonzalez from Health Resources in Action. They shared critical data from their ongoing work, offering a closer look at air quality challenges and their direct effects on public health. 

Presenters discussed key strategies for improving air quality at the community level, empowering participants with practical knowledge to tackle these issues locally. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of how air pollution impacts public health and how communities can collaborate to make meaningful changes for cleaner, healthier environments.