Martha (Marty) Walz Begins New Role as President of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Advocacy Fund

BOSTON— Martha (Marty) Walz, formerly the state representative of the 8th Suffolk District, officially assumed her new role as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM) this Monday and announced her priorities for the organization. Walz will also serve as President of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts (PPAF), PPLM’s 501(c)(4) sister organization.

“PPLM is the leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate in Massachusetts and I look forward to building on our history of delivering high-quality, accessible, affordable care to our patients; developing a new generation of health care providers; investing in education and prevention programs throughout Massachusetts; and leveraging the political strength of PPLM and PPAF,” said Walz. “While I will miss serving in the House of Representatives, I am honored to be leading such an impressive organization that does so much to improve the lives of women, men, and young people in Massachusetts.”

Walz’s priorities for Planned Parenthood include:

• Position PPLM to thrive during and after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the 2012 Massachusetts payment reform and cost-containment law by:
  • Optimizing services to ensure that cost-effective and high quality health care  is accessible and affordable for Planned Parenthood patients.
  • Leveraging PPLM’s expertise as a trusted health care provider to expand partnerships with top medical institutions and community-based organizations, which will result in better coordination of care and improved health outcomes for women and men across Massachusetts.
  • Investing in PPLM’s medical Research Center to improve health care services and outcomes for women, and in PPLM’s Family Planning Fellowship to train the next generation of health care providers.
    
• Further PPLM’s commitment to being a leader of innovative and effective sexual health education programs, including:
  • Working with schools and districts to implement PPLM’s middle and high school Get Real curriculum in more Massachusetts classrooms and in schools throughout the country.
  • Reaching more teens and communities through PPLM’s newly launched Get Real Teen Council peer education program.
  • Expanding Seamos Honestos, PPLM’s bilingual parent education program, to more Latino families across Massachusetts.
    
• Build and intensify PPLM and PPAF’s political power and grassroots strength in order to:
  • Protect and expand the pro-women’s health majorities in the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives as well as mobilize Planned Parenthood supporters to elect state and federal leaders (including U.S. Senator and Governor) who will protect women’s ability to make personal medical decisions.
  • Ensure that Massachusetts leads the nation in passing legislation and implementing policies that promote sexual health for women and men, including reducing barriers to abortion services and ensuring that more young people have access to age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education.
  • Be a strong advocate for the interests of Planned Parenthood patients and supporters in the legislative and regulatory arenas.
  • Lead the public conversation about sexual health and reproductive rights through robust engagement with earned and social media.
  • Increase collaboration and participation with organizations that share a commitment to women’s access to health care, helping teens stay healthy, and public health. Increase public support for Planned Parenthood services and legislative priorities at the grassroots level and with elected officials and other community leaders.

“We are pleased that Marty Walz, a dedicated and accomplished advocate for women’s health, is now at the helm of PPLM,” said Nonnie S. Burnes, Board Chair. “I know the Board of Directors and the staff are delighted to be working with Marty to build on the successes of the innovative education programs and excellent health care services that Planned Parenthood offers across the state.”

For the past eight years, Walz represented the 8th Suffolk District in the State House and most recently served as the Assistant Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. Among her many legislative achievements, she was the lead sponsor of the 2007 law that created a 35-foot buffer zone to protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of staff and patients who trust Planned Parenthood for its compassionate, high quality care. During her time in the legislature, Walz also championed family planning funding, teen pregnancy prevention programs, comprehensive and age-appropriate health education, and education reform. She is also the author of the state’s anti-bullying law.
 
In addition to Walz’s lengthy history of advocating on behalf of sexual and reproductive health issues in the public arena, she has extensive experience in the private and non-profit sectors and has also served in several key volunteer leadership posts, including on the boards of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the Women’s Lunch Place, and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, Inc. 

Walz steps into the role after it was vacated in December by Dianne Luby, who served as PPLM’s President and CEO for the last thirteen years.

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is the largest freestanding reproductive health care provider in the state. For over 80 years PPLM has protected and promoted sexual and reproductive health and freedom of choice through clinical services, education and advocacy.  For more information, visit www.pplm.org.