Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh To Retire

WORCESTER, MA — A health official in Worcester has retired, the city announced on Friday.

Division of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh will work his last day with the municipality on Friday. He has held the position since 2012.

Dr. Hirsh was the Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Trauma at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

He led WDPH to become the first nationally accredited public health division in Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Health from 2012 to 2014.

“My proudest moment at WDPH was serving as a Public Information Officer during the pandemic, leading over 200 press conferences with the City Manager and Mayor and helping to train the Vaccine Corps of medical students who helped administer the COVID vaccine beginning in January 2021,” said Dr. Hirsh.

Dr. Hirsh grew up in New York City and is the only son of Holocaust survivors. He attended Harvard University and completed surgical residencies at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Temple University’s St. Christopher Hospital for Children.

The city has not identified who will fill the position, but said the administration is working with UMass to identify the right candidate.

See Also:

• Worcester County Residents Invited To Return Firearms At Gun Buyback Event
• Historic First: QCC Police Chief Becomes First College Leader To Join Central MA Chiefs Association
• Worcester To Open Temporary Winter Overflow Shelter