For Immediate Release:
6/22/2023 10:33 am
In December 2022, Soloe Dennis, was hired as the Director of the Worcester Division of Public Health (WDPH), succeeding Acting Director Zach Dyer, Ph.D. Overseeing the daily operations of WDPH and the Central Massachusetts Regional Public Health Alliance (CMRPHA), Dennis hit the ground running, visiting local vaccine clinics, meeting with municipal leadership, and spearheading work to address public health challenges and health inequities.
“My transition to this role has been wonderful. I am lucky to be working with great administrators in the Alliance communities. The staff that I have been communicating and collaborating with are very knowledgeable and passionate about their individual roles and positions,” he said.
Dennis praised WDPH’s innovative approach to developing public health systems and programs, and he was particularly attracted to the position by the CMRPHA’s history of implementing public health initiatives from a regional perspective. As Director, he now aims to advance the Alliance’s work and looks forward to collaborating to improve health outcomes of the region’s residents.
“I could not be more excited to welcome Soloe to the team. He brings exceptional leadership qualities, an incredible wealth of experience, and a commitment to addressing public health inequities. Even more, he knows and loves the City of Worcester as a former resident, and I look forward to collaborating with him to improve and protect the health of all our residents,” said Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista.
Soon after joining WDPH and the CMRPHA, Dennis was elected Board Chair of the Massachusetts Health Council, a 102-year-old organization dedicated to health advocacy, education, and programs addressing health inequities and social determinants of health. The Council leads a broad group of stakeholders to foster a strong culture of health in Massachusetts and enable communities to thrive.
Previously, Dennis served as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Health & Human Services in the City of Springfield since 2016. In that role, he advised the Commissioner on policy and regulatory issues, program priorities, strategic alignment of activities, and resource allocation. He also oversaw several offices and initiatives covering substance abuse and prevention, tobacco, nursing, environmental health, problem gambling, marijuana compliance, health equity, racial justice, and public health preparedness and response.
“I am confident that Soloe is the right person to lead the Division of Public Health as Worcester faces challenges such as health disparities, COVID-19, homelessness, and substance misuse. He has accomplished amazing work throughout the state, and I am eager to work closely with him and the entire Division to advance our city’s health and well-being and build on the achievements of previous directors,” said Castiel.
Before joining the City of Springfield, Dennis worked for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) as the Director of Local Public Health Initiatives and as Regional Director for the Western Massachusetts region. As Director of Local Public Health Initiatives, he led workforce development initiatives to ensure that all of the Commonwealth’s 351 local boards of health had the appropriate skill set and training needed to carry out the 10 essential services of core public health functions. Dennis was instrumental in strengthening engagement and partnership with the state’s academic institutions around research and workforce development efforts. As Regional Director, he oversaw the Northampton Regional Health Office, supporting MDPH priority areas and staff communications across all bureaus.
In addition to the Massachusetts Health Council, Dennis serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences Dean Advisory Board, MDPH Local and Regional Public Health Advisory Committee, and Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts.
Dennis earned his Master of Science in Environmental Health from the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, and he is a graduate of the Commonwealth Senior Leadership Program and is a Master Exercise Practitioner certified by the Department of Homeland Security.
