Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner John Auerbach held his second Southeast Regional Health Dialogue on October 23, 2007, at the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford. Designed to open communication between the DPH central office in Boston and those in other parts of the Commonwealth, the event provided an update of current Department priorities and an opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions. Priorities include an emphasis on reducing health disparities, efforts to address chronic care, and proposals to address wellness in communities, schools and the workplace. A series of funding initiatives for each of these priorities was recently announced by the Department. Commissioner Auerbach also announced the availability of a new series of local data reports at the sub-state level, including reports for the City of Fall River. Southeast Regional Director Ron O'Connor also announced that the Department will be re-establishing a regional DPH office within the Southeastern Area of Massachusetts. For the past several years, the office has been located in Canton. Click here to see photos from the June 7th Regional Health Dialogue held at Bristol Community College. For more information about these dialogues, contact Mr. O'Connor at 781-774-6608.

(Top row, left ) Newly-appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner chats with Virginia Senna-Davis and Julie Kelly of the Diabetes Association in Fall River. (Top row, right) Southeast Regional Director Ron O'Connor welcomes the Commissioner to the Wamsutta Club gathering. (Middle row, left) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Director Carmen Maiocco asks what the Department is doing to address Lyme Disease in the Southeastern Area of the state as Southcoast Hospitals Vice-President of Public Affairs James Rattray and DPH Office of Healthy Communities Director Cathy O'Connor listen. (Middle row and bottom row, right) Commissioner Auerbach responds to questions during the dialogue. (Bottom row, left) Steve Brown of the Barnstable County public health office talks about their new on-line listing of human services. (Bottom row, center) New Bedford Public Health Director Marianne DeSouza describes the critical role that public health officials play in addressing community health issues.