The Pan-Mass Challenge, has announced the appointment of Dr. Matthew McGuiness, MD, a cardiologist and 34-year PMC volunteer, as the organization’s Executive Director. In this role, McGuiness (age 45) will lead PMC’s operations and strategic direction, overseeing the organization’s continued growth as the single largest contributor to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and deepening its work with the riders, volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors who power its mission.
McGuiness’s relationship with the PMC began when he was just 12 years old and has continued for more than three decades, including 25 years serving on the PMC’s Volunteer Head Staff as a site co-coordinator for the event’s starting line in Sturbridge and later Worcester.
“When I think about what makes the PMC what it is, it's not just what we do — it's who we are. Matt has that in his bones,” said PMC Founder and Chairman Billy Starr. “He grew up in this community, and then he went on to become a cardiologist, choosing a life dedicated to caring for others. That's not a resume line — that's a value system. I can't think of anyone better suited to lead us into this next chapter.”
Born and raised in Massachusetts, McGuiness studied as an undergraduate at Penn State University, where he also earned a master’s degree in education, before returning home for medical school at UMass Chan Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and returned to UMass for fellowship training in cardiology, where he has remained on the faculty since. Clinically, he has cared for patients in settings ranging from the outpatient clinic to the ICU, with a particular interest in the cardiac care of patients with cancer. McGuiness’s years treating cancer patients as a cardiologist offer him a specialized, firsthand understanding of the disease PMC exists to fight, and he plans to carry that perspective directly into his leadership of the organization.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The PMC has been part of my life since I was 12 years old, and I am honored to help lead this incredible organization into its next era,” said Dr. McGuiness. “As a cardiologist, I’ve spent my career caring for patients individually. This role will allow me to extend that same commitment to fighting cancer on a much broader scale, driving impact for thousands of patients and families at once.”
“Matt brings an incredible growth mindset to the PMC, paired with a level of commitment to this organization that is simply unquestionable,” said Mike Ascione, Chairman of the PMC Board of Directors. “Throughout our search process, we heard from stakeholders across the vast PMC community, and their message and endorsement were consistent. Matt brings tremendous and indisputable credibility to this role. We are confident he is the right leader to carry the PMC's critical mission forward.”
McGuiness's commitment to the PMC extends throughout his family. His wife, Michelle, has been involved with the PMC for 25 years, including more than two decades of volunteering and three years serving as a Kids Ride Coordinator. She is also a member of the PMC Living Proof® community, whose own experience with cancer treatment reflects the impact of the research and care that PMC has spent decades helping fund. The couple's two children also ride in PMC Kids Rides each year.
The Executive Director role will succeed the PMC’s existing CEO position following the planned departure of current CEO Jarrett Collins at the end of 2026. Under Collins’s leadership, the PMC experienced incredible growth and continued progress, and he leaves a legacy of innovation that will benefit the organization for years to come.
The search process was led by an internal search committee with the assistance of Spencer Stuart.