Recordbreaking layoffs at Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham in early 2025 included several chaplains — a decision that some say will hurt patient care, The Boston Globe reported April 2.
When the health system announced the layoffs in early February, the organization said the job cuts would mainly involve managers and administrators, rather than patient-facing roles. Six full-time chaplains — including at least three who worked directly with patients and families — were among the hundreds laid off in February and March, according to the Globe.
“These actions are primarily focused on nonclinical and nonpatient-facing roles in an effort to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and maximize support for frontline clinicians,” Mass General Brigham said in its original announcement.
Tara Deonauth, a chaplain who worked as a spiritual care manager at Faulkner Hospital in Boston before being laid off in March, told the Globe she felt “shocked and heartbroken” by the news.
“I could not have worked more closely with patients,” Ms. Deonauth said, adding that she saw about 25 patients a week.
A spokesperson for Mass General Brigham confirmed with Becker’s that it has consolidated chaplain roles.
“Our patients and their families will continue to have access to chaplains from a variety of religious backgrounds and especially in instances of emergent care, which is available every day of the week, at all times,” the spokesperson said.
Also among the layoffs was a clinical social worker who led violence intervention and prevention programs and both employees of the system’s Living Tobacco-Free program, which Mass General Brigham decided in 2024 to close.
Jessica Loftus, who has led the violence intervention and prevention programs since 2019, said she provided care to patients who experienced human trafficking and other abuse.
A spokesperson for the system told Becker’s that Ms. Loftus’ position “was a management role that was consolidated from two managers managing a group of social workers down to one manager. This was a reduction of a management layer, not the elimination of a clinical care role. For example, we currently have openings posted for clinical social workers.”
“They can classify it however they want, but my role in our human trafficking program was direct patient care,” Ms. Loftus told the Globe.
Mass General Brigham previously said the layoffs are to counteract a projected budget gap of $250 million within two years. The organization declined to confirm the scope, but the Globe reported that an estimated 1,500 employees were laid off. Mass General Brigham employs 82,000, meaning the projected layoffs account for 1.83% of its total workforce.
“Everyone who works at Mass General Brigham has an impact in some way on our patients and their experience with our system,” a spokesperson told Becker’s.
“As part of our recent reorganization, it was important that we focused on nonclinical management and administrative roles and those decisions were made by local leaders in the hospitals to ensure there would be no negative impacts to patient care. We are grateful for the many contributions of our colleagues affected by these decisions and the value that all of our employees bring to our community every day.”
