Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates is a nonprofit multi-specialty medical group providing primary and specialty care to 460,000 adult and pediatric patients at more than 20 offices across eastern Massachusetts. Harvard Vanguard’s 4,000 employees, including more than 625 physicians and 1,000 healthcare professionals, are committed to making it easier for patients to be and stay healthy. Harvard Vanguard practices are among the highest rated in the state for clinical quality and accept insurance from most major health plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Neighborhood Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan, and Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred. Harvard Vanguard is an affiliate of Atrius Health (http://www.atriushealth.org), an alliance of five leading non-profit community-based medical groups in Massachusetts.

Six years ago, the pediatrics department at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates decided to help prevent traumatic head injuries that often occur when participating in wheeled sports (bikes, scooters, skateboards) by offering helmets to children for a very nominal fee of $8.00 per helmet. Today, Harvard Vanguard estimates that they sell upwards of 2,000 helmets a year.