Margret Cooke Appointed Commissioner of Public Health

BOSTON — Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders announced that Margret Cooke, acting commissioner for the Department of Public Health (DPH) for the past seven months, has been appointed to the role permanently.

Cooke joined DPH as general counsel in 2015 before being promoted to deputy commissioner in 2020 and most recently serving as acting commissioner. Her long record of public service includes deputy bureau chief in the Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau in the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General.

“Commissioner Cooke’s strong command of the work of the department, coupled with her policy and management skills and legal acumen, have been invaluable,” Sudders said. “I am deeply grateful for her willingness to serve as commissioner and for her commitment to public health and public service in Massachusetts that is inclusive and accessible.”

Added Cooke, “I am so pleased to assume this role and continue to work with our talented and hardworking DPH staff. I look forward to continuing our work on priorities including mitigating COVID-19, addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic, and working to keep people healthy and communities strong throughout our Commonwealth, with a particular focus on health equity.”

In other personnel announcements, DPH Chief of Staff Jennifer Barrelle has been named deputy commissioner for the department; Dr. Estevan Garcia, a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric emergency-medicine physician, joins DPH as chief medical officer in the commissioner’s office; and Yves Singletary moves from DPH’s Bureau of Community Health and Prevention to a new role as senior advisor to the commissioner.