Natick’s recently retired Director of Public Health Jim White devoted his entire career over 40-plus years to the town. His successor, Michael Boudreau, is no slouch in the longevity department either.
The Board of Health appointed Boudreau, who boasts 20-plus years with the Health Department, as director at its meeting this week. He has served as acting director since White’s retirement at the end of September.
Boudreau started his career with Natick’s Health Department as a sanitarian under former Director Roger Wade and became a senior environmental specialist for Jim White during his time as public health director. Prior to working here, Boudreau was a health inspector for the City of Worcester.
Boudreau had high regard for White’s work in Natick, referring to him as “a public health professional of the highest caliber” who “instilled a sense of dedication, continual improvement, and integrity throughout our Department. I learned that public health is a dynamic, important field requiring a balanced sense of judgment, understanding, compassion, and conviction.”
The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us as Boudreau starts his new job, but he says the department needs to stay vigilant.
“Our ultimate goal remains to promote public health and strive to provide strategies (such as clinics, information, and personal protection measures) that help the community go beyond the pandemic,” says Boudreau, who when he isn’t focused on work enjoys traveling the world, reading, art, and animals.
Boudreau leads what he describes as “a great team that provides a diverse range of perspectives, interests, and experience.”
One challenge for the team is adding to its ranks, including a public health nurse, an administrative assistant, and Boudreau’s former position.
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