Advocating for Equity at Every Level
Michael Zarra, a fourth-year MD student at Tufts University School of Medicine, has been named a 2025 recipient of the Tufts Presidential Award for Civic Life in recognition of his extraordinary leadership in civic engagement, health equity, and medical policy. His work—spanning advocacy, research, and education—has had a lasting impact at the institutional, state, and national levels.
Throughout his time at Tufts University School of Medicine, Zarra championed health equity through leadership roles in the American Medical Association and Massachusetts Medical Society. He played a key role in writing and advancing policies aimed at improving access to care, mentoring fellow students in the legislative process, and delivering testimony on issues that challenge structural inequities in medicine.
As president of the Pediatric Interest Group, Zarra responded to the closure of a key pediatric hospital in Boston’s Chinatown by leading a three-year policy initiative to address gaps in pediatric inpatient care. The resulting policy gained statewide support, was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and was ultimately adopted at the national level by the AMA—an achievement shaped by Zarra’s steady leadership from start to finish.
Zarra also conducted equity-focused research at Tufts Medical Center, where he developed an implicit bias reduction curriculum that was implemented across 14 residency programs. The curriculum improved clinical training environments and patient care outcomes, and its success led to national presentation and ongoing expansion to include faculty audiences.
Drawing on his background in theater, Zarra helped launch a national webinar series using improvisational techniques to train participants in microaggression mitigation. This innovative approach broadened the reach of his equity work and exemplified his ability to integrate personal passions with social impact.
Peers and mentors have praised Zarra for his cultural humility and dedication to mentoring others. He consistently amplified the voices of those around him, championed policy efforts that advanced the interests of underrepresented communities, and helped build infrastructure to ensure those efforts would endure beyond his own involvement.
The Tufts Presidential Award for Civic Life celebrates these contributions, which not only exemplify the university’s values but also serve as a model for how future physicians can lead meaningful change across medicine and society.