Dedham Candidate Profile 2022: Bernadette Chirokas

DEDHAM, MA - Dedham voters will have a big choice to make in Saturday's election for the Board of Health.

Current board Vice Chair Mary Ellard, whose term expires this month, has decided not to run for reelection. This creates an open seat with two contenders for it: Colleen Hynes and Bernadette Chirokas.

To help voters get to know each candidate, Dedham Patch sent both candidates a questionnaire to probe their thoughts on the issues. Here's what Chirokas had to say.

Age as of Election Day: 55

Position sought: Board of Health

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: 3 children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education

Master of Science in Management and Healthcare Administration (USA)
Diplomas in Medical Laboratory Science (Ireland )

Occupation:

Manager- Hospital Clinical Microbiology Laboratory (30 years USA)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Dedham Commission on Disability. Dedham Special Education Patent's Advisory Council

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for the Board of Health because I care deeply for this community, and I have the skills and experience to make a positive impact in people’s lives. I have always been impressed by how much people in Dedham care for one another. That sense of community inspired me to volunteer and give back to the town.

As the mother of a child who uses mobility assistive devices, I have worked with the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee to advocate for and support families in the Dedham Public Schools. I also serve on the Dedham Commission for Disability and am a liaison to the Dedham Active Transportation Workgroup.

I am committed to improving health literacy and preventative care. I am also committed to do my best to help others with their health needs, including mental health.

My experience, education and training will allow me to help people access the information, preempt problems, and be prepared to address routine as well as urgent health needs of the community.

The single most pressing issue facing our board is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

As we emerge from the pandemic, the Board of Health will face new challenges. The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing health issues such as mental health needs, especially in younger and older populations.

I would initiate a community based participatory health assessment to determine the needs of the population of Dedham, and utilize community driven goals and to develop a plan for improving health in the community.

Additionally, I plan to collaborate with local agencies on initiatives for outdoor exercise and programs to help Dedham’s youth develop healthier lifestyles.

Many Dedham residents also have food insecurity, and this has increased over the last 2 years, evidenced by the number of families using the extra food supplied by the Dedham public schools.

The Board of Health has been responsible for addressing public health issues before Covid and will continue to tackle them as Covid wanes. Dedham faces continued threats from the opioid epidemic, vaping, new influenza strains, emergencies created by severe weather, and environmental issues. We also face a much higher incidence of heart disease, especially in people who have had Covid. There is concern about an influx of pests and the proliferation of tick-borne diseases. I want to use both my scientific and collaborative skills to help our Board of Health be ready for such threats.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have worked in Boston healthcare for 30 years at 4 major hospitals including for 8 years the VAMC at West Roxbury.

I work full time at Tufts Medical Center running a very busy clinical microbiology lab, where we test for every type of infectious disease and are a sentinel agent lab to watch for new and emerging disease and agents of bioterrorism. We send results daily to the Mass Department of Public Health and the Boston Public Health Commission. We survey for, and collect all forms of multidrug resistant organisms, every day.

I have a Master of Science in Management and Healthcare Administration and extensive hospital experience including clinical Microbiology lab work at Boston Medical Center, the West Roxbury Veterans Administration, Medical Center Beth Israel, and currently Tufts Medical Center, I have a solid understanding and passion for the mission of the Board of Health.

At Tufts, I serve on several multidisciplinary hospital committees and provide quarterly reports and/or Quality Assurance project cycles.

I’ve trained with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in Family and Community Leadership, have trained with Mass Family Ties as a parent-to-parent advisor, and have taught English as a second language for several years.

I continue to learn about public health and safety developments while having a solid foundation in understanding our wonderful town of Dedham and what might work to address our challenges.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

My family and I have been deeply appreciative of the excellent work performed by the Board of Health. My children have attended camps, and pools in Dedham. We go to all of the outdoor events sponsored by various organizations around town, from the Antique car fair to Flag Day and the Duck Fair presented by the Rotary Club to Dedham Day, and I have always noticed the oversight of the Board of Health for these events and enjoyed all of the food served at these events.

A very personal positive experience for me was when my youngest was still a baby and not quite following the path suggested in the baby books. I was a distressed, emotionally overwhelmed parent and seeking information that I didn’t receive at my well-child visit.

I remembered a notice in the newspaper about the Board of Health and the Dedham Health Department and called them. They listened to me, more importantly heard my needs and took my information. Less than 1/2 an hour later, they called back, they had already called early intervention services, and had a phone number and a name for me. This appreciation for the Dedham Health department and the Board of Health is one of the reasons I am running for this office.

I believe, with my experience, training, and management that I can make a positive contribution to the Dedham Board of Health.

The Board of Health can continue to build out their abilities in distributing information about available resources across a variety of health topics, or health related concerns in the town, especially behavioral health resources. Posting vital information via the BOH website or the other community resources, are some ways to improve communication and engagement with Dedham residents. Dedham has a newly hired IT staff member who can assist in making these additions to the town website.

The BOH has added a small grid indicating Covid numbers to The Dedham Times; this can also be posted in multiple digital formats.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe the health of our community is dependent on the health and wellbeing of every member of the community. Taking care of the needs of the vulnerable in our community is enormously important and listening to the community, assessing health needs, and implementing the best ways to help is crucial.

I have a solid understanding of the needs of the Board of Health and a passion for health advocacy. Planning decisions affect health outcomes in a community.

Priorities are: Improve health literacy across the community, help families become educated and effective advocates for their own wellness and healthcare, prevent substance abuse and vaping, particularly among youth, strengthen support systems for people impacted by the pandemic, including seniors who have been isolated, people with pre-existing health issues, and people with mental health concerns. The pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity and pre-existing health issues including mental health needs, especially in younger and older populations.

If elected to the Board of Health, here are a few ways I plan on caring for our residents and our most vulnerable populations in our community:
• Assist with behavioral and mental health by helping people find the resources they need, via mental health resource guides that include listing of substance abuse resources.
• Strengthening support systems for people affected by the pandemic, including seniors who have been isolated and those that have pre-existing health issues.
• Preventing further chronic health issues by collaborating with existing services in Dedham to increase awareness and ways to improve health and well-being.
• Increase awareness of the Silver Alert Pre-registration Program with the Dedham Police Department that allows you to pre-register someone at risk of wandering from the home.
• Reduce risk of falls for seniors and help increase education regarding simple home aids to prevent falls.
• Increase awareness and availability of low-cost options for hearing aids, passed by recent federal legislation. Hearing loss is very common, very isolating, can lead to increased risk of cognitive decline, can mimic cognitive decline, and can also increase risk of falls.
• Ensure equitable access to health resources and information so all residents can achieve their greatest health potential.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My training in management and healthcare administration, and collaborative experience can ensure the board and public are informed on the latest public health-related science, or any other emerging disease threats which may affect our well-being, and work with regulatory compliance for the town. In addition, my years on various public health related Town boards equips me with extensive institutional knowledge that will enable me to be productive on the Board of Health from day one. These groups include the Commission on Disability, as a liaison to Dedham Active Transportation Workgroup Active Transportation Workgroup, and Dedham Organization for Substance Awareness (DOSA). I have been endorsed by the Dedham Coalition for Equity and Inclusion.

I have 30 years of experience in the US healthcare and public health in major Boston hospitals. My current position is managing a busy clinical microbiology lab at Tufts Medical Center, with 24/7 staffing. I have American Society of Clinical Pathology certification as a Specialist in Microbiology SM (ASCP). I am a College of American Pathologists certified inspector for other labs across the US and have conducted clinical laboratory inspections in several other states. I have a Master of Science in Management and Healthcare Administration, and the distinguished scholar award for the highest GPA in the program.

At Tufts Medical Center microbiology lab, we train Infectious Disease Fellows and Pathologists, and collaborate daily with infectious disease & infection prevention teams. I have recruited and retained an outstanding staff; advocated for adequate resources; new equipment and set policies and priorities that are science-based.

Most recently during this pandemic, I was responsible for rapidly validating several newly introduced, highly sensitive SARS-Cov-2 assays at the start of the pandemic. We began manufacturing our own viral transport media and testing collection kits enough to supply the hospital, our network hospitals, several outpatient diabetes centers and prisons. We had to surmount multiple supply chain issues and be very creative in continuing to provide the best possible patient services. We have processed 330,000 SAR CoV-2 samples to date, while we continued to perform our regular duties testing for every type of infectious disease. We also act as a sentinel agent lab to watch for new and emerging diseases and agents of bioterrorism.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I have 2 :
Always be kind.
Don’t Drink and Drive.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Thank you for allowing me to participate in this opportunity to present my interest in the Dedham Board of Health and advocating for the health and wellbeing of every member of our community, from the very youngest to our seniors, in every possible way, to protect and improve the health and quality of life of the town’s residents and workforce.

I appreciate your vote for Bernadette Chirokas on April 9th for Board of Health