Ruth Ellen Fitch began her tenure as Dimock Community Health Center’s new President and Chief Executive Officer in August, 2004. At this historic community institution, formerly the New England Hospital for Women and Children, Ms. Fitch oversees a staff of 500 and budget of more than $25 million. Ms. Fitch was chosen for her strong background as a corporate and non-profit leader and her keen ability to analyze, develop and execute strategies to attain organizational goals and financial success.

Prior to her position with Dimock, Ms. Fitch was with Palmer & Dodge for 21 years, where in 1991 she became the first black female partner at a large Boston law firm. From 1974-1980 she was Director of METCO (the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) in Brookline. She has also taught black literature at UMass Boston. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Barnard College and completed her law degree at Harvard Law School, where she served for three years on the Law School Administrative Board.

Currently, Ms. Fitch serves on the Boards of Trustees for Roxbury Community College, where she is Vice-Chair and recently Chaired the Presidential Search Committee. She also sits on the Board of the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union. She has chaired the Board of Directors at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries and served on the board of the Grimes King Foundation.

Ms. Fitch has received awards for achievement in the legal profession from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, the Woman of Achievement Award from the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, the Charles Hamilton Houston Public Service Award from the Harvard Black Law Students Association, and the Distinguished Alumna Award from the Girls’ Latin School/Boston Latin Academy, where she has been a Commencement Speaker.

Ms. Fitch is a member of the Boston Bar Association and the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, and serves as Director and Executive Committee Member for the Boston Municipal Research Bureau.

Ms. Fitch grew up in Roxbury, just a few blocks from Dimock, and now resides in Brookline with her husband Harrison. Her daughter Robin teaches in the Wayland school system and her son Chip lives in Lawrence with his wife and son.