Staff Spotlight: Maddy Brogan

What is it about MAMH that makes you excited to come to work every day?

I knew from a young age I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps and pursue a career that allowed me to positively impact others’ lives. With a career as a school social worker, she made sure I was acutely aware of and recognized the different struggles we all face in life, many of which are due to factors outside of our control.

The opportunity to work alongside colleagues with this shared passion of creating meaningful change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities excites me every day. Working to accomplish MAMH’s mission and vision with a team from diverse backgrounds is rewarding and allows me to continuously grow professionally and personally, gain valuable experience from others, and be challenged. I’m grateful to work alongside an amazing group of people.

Which achievement in your career with MAMH stands out to you most?

My introduction to mental health advocacy and MAMH occurred while pursing my MPH from Boston University. Danna Mauch, MAMH’s President and CEO, was co-teaching a mental health advocacy course with MAMH Governing Board member Ken Duckworth. I later interned with MAMH, where I researched and identified gaps in federal and state parity laws impacting consumer access to behavioral health care. After being hired as full-time staff, I continued this work by contributing to legislative advocacy related to parity that was informed by my research and organizational partners with subject-matter expertise.

What's something outside of work that brings you joy and fulfillment?

Unpopular opinion… Sunday is the best day of the week! Yes, it’s the last day of the weekend and typically spent preparing for the week ahead, but it’s also Church of the Long Run, a Sunday ritual for runners. As a former Division 1 cross country/track student-athlete, and someone who is a *little* obsessed with running, you can often find me on the streets of Boston or along the Esplanade with friends and exploring cafes for post-run treats. Brothers and Sisters Café in Brookline Village currently holds first place for the best coffee and pastries! Up next on my race calendar is my fifth half-marathon this spring.

I’m also a homebody who enjoys quiet evenings. During the summer months I love sunset walks with my partner and during the winter you can find me wrapped in a blanket reading my book club’s current selection. We are currently reading “How to Be Eaten,” where classic fairy tale characters are reimagined as modern women in a support group for trauma. However, if you were to ask me for book recommendations, I’ll always suggest novels written by Jodi Picoult.

Another fun fact about me is that I recently built a couch and dining room table with my partner (and his father) for our new apartment!