For Immediate Release: 10/2/2013 8:20 am
Worcester, MA (October 1, 2013) - Derek Brindisi, Director of Public Health for the City of Worcester and the Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance, has been appointed to the Massachusetts Public Health Council effective immediately. Mr. Brindisi received a letter of appointment from Governor Deval Patrick on Monday and will be sworn in within the next two days.
The Public Health Council (PHC), which was reconstituted in 2007 as part of Health Care Reform, consists of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner as Chairman and fourteen additional members. Twelve of the fourteen members are appointed by the Governor. The other two members, who must be non-providers, are appointed respectively by the Secretary of Elder Affairs and the Secretary of Veterans' Services.
Among the PHC's responsibilities are:
Brindisi recently co-chaired the city-wide Community Health Improvement Initiative which included a comprehensive Community Health Assessment (CHA) and the launch of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), a strategic plan with an overall vision of achieving the status of "Healthiest City in New England" by 2020. He also led the City's regionalization efforts to develop the Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance which now serves the towns of Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Shrewsbury and West Boylston along with the City of Worcester. Mr. Brindisi has served as Director of Public Health since 2007 and has been employed with the City since 2000.
The PHC meets once a month at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Bowditch Public Health Council Room - 2nd Floor, Boston, MA. Regular meetings of the PHC are open to public observation of the proceedings.
