DR. JAY SCHACHNE, former chief of cardiology at Southcoast Physicians Group, founder of Truesdale Cardiology and co-founder of the Katie Brown Educational Program in Fall River, was recently selected as the Bristol South District Medical Society’s 2018 Community Clinician of the Year. The award recognizes his professionalism and contributions as a physician. Schachne helped co-establish the Katie Brown Educational Program in 2001 to teach students skills to promote healthy relationships and prevent relationship violence.
What drew you to pursuing a career as a doctor? When I was 15 years old, the first human heart was transplanted in South Africa. Along with a man landing on the moon and the New York Mets winning the World Series, it was a major news item and a miraculous feat. I think that was the time when my desire to be a doctor, and in particular a cardiologist, started.
Can you describe the Katie Brown Educational Program? The Katie Brown Educational Program is a relationship-violence prevention educational organization. It was founded after the brutal murder of Katherine “Katie” Brown of Barrington. Katie was only 20 years old when she was killed by the young man she had dated on and off since high school. The team at KBEP is dedicated to the recognition and prevention of relationship violence through proactive and innovative educational experiences.
What kinds of programs does the organization offer? Our core work consists of teaching students in grades four through 12 … the skills necessary to have healthy dating relationships and to recognize unhealthy ones. We are proud to say in recent years our work has expanded to include relationship sexual-violence prevention programming, parent workshops, professional-development workshops, a consent-awareness pledge and a host of other programs relative to developing a culture of healthy relationships.
How much has the program helped youths since the organization was founded? The program helps participants tremendously in learning the difference between healthy and unhealthful relationships. A study by researchers at Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center confirmed that teens [who] participate in KBEP’s five-session dating-violence curriculum have a lower tolerance for aggression and dating violence.
What future plans do you have in the works for the Katie Brown Program? We are … making great strides in expanding and promoting our professional-development work. In addition to offering workshops in person, we are beginning to build upon our webinar series.
