For Immediate Release: 1/11/2011 8:17 am
Worcester, MA (January 11, 2011) - I am pleased to notify you that I have appointed B. Dale Magee, M.D., M.S., to serve as the City’s Commissioner of Public Health.
Dr. Magee is currently in private practice and has served as the President of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Worcester District Medical Society. Dr. Magee was Chairman of the Worcester Infant Mortality Reduction Task Force, a citywide collaborative when the group successfully secured the Healthy Start Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that our community still receives today. He also serves on the Expert Panel on Performance Measurement for the Massachusetts Health Care Quality & Cost Council and the Birth Defects Registry Advisory for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. As a member of the City Manager’s Task Force on Public Health, Dr. Magee played an integral role in helping to shape the recommendations, specifically with regard to data collection, detailed reporting, production of a community report card, and regionalization. I look forward to working with Dr. Magee to develop a mission that is based on best practices and is reflective of a 21st century sustainable model for public health services.
We received approximately 20 applications for the position from all over the country, which I believe speaks to the reputation of the Division of Public Health and what they've accomplished. A review committee was established to assist in the selection process. I would like to recognize and thank John O'Brien, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care; Joseph Mullany, CEO, Saint Vincent Hospital/Vanguard Health Systems; Catarina Kiefe, M.D., Chair, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Medical School; Kathleen Johnson, Human Resources Director; and Leonard Morse, M.D., current Commissioner of Public Health for taking the time out of their extremely busy schedules to participate in this selection process.
Dr. Magee will begin on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. As a partner in his medical practice, he will require a transition period to move into the full-time Commissioner position. He will adjust his appointments to meet the Division's and the City's needs and will be available for all emergency matters related to public health.
I also wish to extend my sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Leonard Morse for his professionalism and dedication to stay on board while we completed our search for a Public Health Commissioner. His leadership was especially critical during the mercury and tuberculosis incidents at our public schools, and I wish to publicly thank Dr. Morse for his years of service and his commitment to our great City.
