Derrick L. Neal, a Texas well being administrator with greater than 30 years of expertise in public well being, has been chosen as Cambridge’s new chief public well being officer, town introduced final week.
As chief public well being officer, Neal will oversee the Cambridge Metropolis Public Well being Division, a nationally accredited division with the aim of selling the well being of Cambridge residents by “providers, info, insurance policies, and laws,” per the division’s web site.
“Because the division helps town get well from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Neal will work to enhance operations and processes,” the Cambridge Public Well being Division wrote in a Nov. 22 press launch. “He may also develop the division’s vital work addressing the problems of inclusion and well being fairness, in addition to the social determinants of well being locally.”
Earlier than coming to Cambridge, Neal labored in public well being and municipal authorities in Texas. He holds a grasp’s diploma from the College of Illinois, Springfield, and most lately served as the chief director of the Williamson County and Cities Well being District in Spherical Rock, Texas.
Earlier than that, Neal labored because the director of the Victoria County Public Well being Division, the director of the Abilene-Taylor County Public Well being District, an administration and particular tasks supervisor within the Houston Public Works and Engineering Division, and the executive supervisor for Houston’s Well being and Human Providers Division.
Neal is “extraordinarily completed and enthusiastic,” Assaad J. Sayah, the Cambridge commissioner of public well being, stated within the press launch.
“All through his profession, Mr. Neal has demonstrated distinctive management capability, neighborhood engagement and collaboration, and competency managing native, state, and federal public well being providers and mandates in massive public well being departments,” he added.
Neal will fill the place left vacant by Claude A. Jacob, who left Cambridge to go the general public well being division in San Antonio. Jacob, who held the place since 2007, largely oversaw the city’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, coping with challenges corresponding to vaccine shortages and outlining the city’s reopening schedule.
Final Monday, the Metropolis Council unanimously welcomed Neal to his new place within the Cambridge Public Well being Division in a decision sponsored by Councilor E. Denise Simmons.
Neal was chosen for the function in Cambridge after a nationwide search, based on the decision.
Within the decision, the council wished Neal “nice success on this new function” that he’ll formally start subsequent week.
“I look ahead to having Mr. Neal as a key member of the Metropolis’s staff,” Cambridge Metropolis Supervisor Louise A. DePasquale stated within the press launch. “I’m assured that beneath his management, our nationally accredited public well being division will proceed to excel and meet the evolving public well being wants of our neighborhood.”
—Workers author Jennifer L. Powley might be reached at jennifer.powley@thecrimson.com. Comply with her on Twitter @JenniferlPowley.
