The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation appointed Liz Sanchez as director of the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute, a dedicated arm of the foundation’s policy and research agenda.

MMPI serves as an independent and nonpartisan source of information and analysis of MassHealth, the Massachusetts Medicaid program. As director, Sanchez will oversee the work of the institute, including tracking developments that affect MassHealth, guiding policy research, producing policy briefs, and working closely and collaboratively with state leaders, health care stakeholders and advocacy organizations.

Liz Sanchez

“With vast experience in community health and health care access policy, Liz brings the knowledge and skills that are needed to advance the critical work done through MMPI,” said Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh, president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. “Liz’s deep understanding of those perspectives will be invaluable as the foundation connects what is happening on the ground with the policy conversations shaping MassHealth. This is especially important at a time when federal policy and funding changes are having dramatic impacts on this program and are directly challenging our mission.”

Sanchez has over 15 years of experience in federal, state and local health policy development, analysis and implementation. She spent much of her career with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, where she most recently served as the vice president of government affairs and public policy. She succeeds Katherine Howitt, who was named the foundation’s vice president of policy and research.

“I have spent much of my career working at the intersection of health policy and access to care, and I am thrilled to bring that experience to MMPI,” said Sanchez. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation of independent research and analysis and working with partners across the state to provide timely and practical information that can help inform policy decisions.”

Sanchez holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in public health from Northeastern University.

Local Mirick lawyers honored

Hopkinton residents Joseph Baldiga and David Fine, both attorneys at the Mirick law firm’s Westborough office, recently were included as part of the 2027 Best Lawyers in America awards.

Baldiga was chosen for his work on bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, as well as litigation-bankruptcy. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006. Baldiga is a partner and co-chair of the Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and Reorganization Group at Mirick. He has extensive experience in the areas of creditor and debtor rights, bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court loan restructurings and the purchase and sale of distressed businesses, including extensive litigation experience in bankruptcy courts throughout the United States.

Fine was selected for construction law. A partner and chair of the Construction Law Group at Mirick, he represents and counsels clients throughout the construction industry, including owners, developers, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers, in litigation and arbitration, as well as risk management, contract preparation and negotiation, and project and business advice.

Siblings start real estate venture

REC Partners, a growing Hopkinton-based real estate firm co-founded by Paul Mastroianni and Ryan Mastroianni, has added Emily Mastroianni as a licensed real estate agent. Ryan and Emily make up two-thirds of the Mastroianni triplets and were born and raised in Hopkinton. Both are graduates of Hopkinton High School and Providence College.

According to a press release, “Their early exposure to the real estate industry through their father, Paul — whose commercial development work helped shape much of the West Main Street and Lumber Street corridors — sparked a lasting interest in real estate and local economic growth.”

Ryan has experience in technology sales at Hopkinton-based Dell and commercial real estate at Surmount, where he supported clients navigating complex property needs. Emily joins REC Partners after five years in sales at HubSpot, where she helped small and midsize businesses implement CRM and marketing technology solutions.