For Immediate Release: 4/11/2012 11:57 am
Worcester, MA (April 11, 2012) - Michael Hirsh, M.D., FACS, FAAP and Surgeon-in-Chief at UMassMemorial’s Children’s Medical Center, has agreed to serve as Acting Commissioner of Public Health for the City. Dr. Hirsh will fulfill this role on an interim basis as we seek to fill the position permanently. He has accepted this key role as we work with City Council and the community on the further implementation of the Task Force on Public Health’s recommendations.
Dr. Hirsh is currently the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery at UMassMemorial Children’s Medical Center, President of the Worcester District Medical Society, and Director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids Worcester Program.
Dr. Hirsh is renowned for his work in the community to keep children safe and healthy. Since introducing the Injury Free Coalition for Kids and the Mobile Safety Street Project here in the City, he has been at the forefront in advocating safety for children and initiating programs that make our community a substantially safer place for them. Under a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Dr. Hirsh and his partners worked with the City to re-design the Bell Hill playground to make it more age appropriate and "kid friendly," thus serving to lessen the risk of pediatric injury and trauma unit visits. He initialized the Mobile Safety Street Project to teach kids to be street smart and aware of their surroundings. This is a comprehensive program and encompasses pedestrian safety, bike safety (helmets), stranger safety, school bus safety, and burns and poisoning. Dr. Hirsh implemented this initiative through hands-on experience and a positive reinforcement of safe street practices. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids in the Worcester area provides in-depth educational awareness programs that are designed to keep kids safe. Dr. Hirsh is also a Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Dr. Hirsh has partnered with the Worcester Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for nearly a decade now to reinforce the "Goods for Guns Buy Back Program," which allows people to turn in operable firearms in exchange for a monetary gift certificate. This program continues has been very successful in large part because of Dr. Hirsh’s proactive participation. He educates patients and families as to the dangers of guns and gun violence, and to date the WPD has removed over 2,100 guns from the City’s streets.
Dr. Hirsh will begin today, Wednesday, April 11. Given his workload and schedule, he will take on the role at 15 hours a week to start. He will adjust his schedule to meet the Division’s and the City’s needs and will be available for all emergency matters related to public health.
Dr. Hirsh’s commitment and advocacy for the health of our community cannot be overstated. He collaborates with many City agencies, and is a "hands on" physician and educator. We are indeed fortunate to have retained the services of Dr. Michael Hirsh as Acting Commissioner of Public Health.
