Who We Are

Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility (GBPSR) is an affiliate of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR^®), a national organization of over 32,000 physicians, health care professionals, and supporters. PSR, known as "the active conscience of the medical community," was formed in 1961 to address the health consequences of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. It has since broadened its mission to include the health consequences of environmental pollution and degradation, and also the reduction of violence and its causes. PSR's international federation, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, was awarded the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to translate the abstract concept of nuclear war into medical and personal terms.

GBPSR has over 1600 members in Eastern Massachusetts who individually and collectively work on a variety of issues relating to health, including quality and access to health care, environmental pollution, militarism and war, community and personal violence, and social justice and human rights.

GBPSR's Human Health and the Environment Project (HHEP) was one of the first in the PSR organization nationally to focus on the public health consequences of environmental pollution. Since 1992 the HHEP has been active in educating the medical community on the linkages between environmental exposures and health, activating members to work to protect public health, assisting grassroots groups with technical and scientific issues relating to human health and environment issues, and participating in public policy debates.