New(ish) role, familiar face: Meet Natick’s new public health director
NATICK — Michael Boudreau no longer has “acting” in his title as the town’s director of public health, following approval from the Board of Health earlier this week.
Boudreau had been serving as acting director while the town sought a replacement for longtime Director Jim White, who retired in September.
Boudreau has been with Natick's health department for 20 years, serving under White and White's predecessor, Roger Wade. Before that, Boudreau was a health inspector in Worcester, where he lives.
“Working with two of our long-serving directors gave me a lot of institutional knowledge,” Boudreau said of his tenure in Natick.
Leaving a legacy: Jim White retires after 41 years at the Natick Health Dept.
"Taking over for Jim White is certainly a big honor,” he added. “He was definitely a public health professional of the highest caliber, and he really gave this department dedication, continual improvement and integrity."
Through White, Boudreau continued, "I learned that public health is a dynamic, important field that requires a big sense of judgment, understanding, compassion and conviction.”
Finding a replacement for White was a challenge, according to Board of Health Chair Donald Breda.
But Breda said Boudreau “impressed me quite a bit in the way he was running the department.”
Large shoes to fill: Natick's lengthy search for a new health director
Natick received three applicants for the position, and the Board of Health voted unanimously on Tuesday — with Town Administrator Jamie Errickson’s backing — to appoint Boudreau, according to Breda.
Between managing the town’s pandemic response, overseeing environmental health townwide and keeping up with the day-to-day, Boudreau will have his hands full, Breda said.
“It’s a busy department,” he said.
For his part, Boudreau said his favorite part of the job is utilizing his interest in science and seeing a direct result in helping the community.
Among his priorities: Continuing the department’s work with the Natick 180 Substance Prevention and Outreach Program, reassessing environmental health needs townwide and seeing Natick through the pandemic.
“While we may see things going a little bit better, (COVID-19) is still with us,” he said, emphasizing the need for continued vaccination and public education efforts.
Boudreau also has plans to fill out the department and onboard new staff.
“We're still looking for some hires, but (the incoming staff) definitely bring a diverse range of perspectives, interests and their own experiences that will help shape the department,” he said.
Abby Patkin is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. Follow Abby on Twitter @AMPatkin. She can be reached at apatkin@wickedlocal.com.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Natick, Mass.: Health Dept. veteran Michael Boudreau is new director
