Former Framingham Health Director Will Lead State Health Office

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Former Framingham health director Dr. Sam Wong will soon become leader of a state office the supports public health in cities and towns across Massachusetts, a move that comes a little more than six months after he left the city.

As leader of the state Department of Public Health's Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH), Wong will be a main contact point for cities and towns to access resources like grants and training, according to Mike Hugo, a Framingham resident and government affairs liaison for the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards.

Wong will also oversee the implementation of changes in the state's local public system, which were recommended in a 2019 report by the Special Commission of Local and Regional Public Health.

Sudbury Health Director William Murphy called Wong's hiring at DPH a benefit for local health leaders — particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Sam is perfectly positioned to lead us into a new future," Murphy said Monday.

In December, Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer announced Wong would be taking a medical leave due to exhaustion he experienced working nonstop during the pandemic. He has been hailed as one of the best public health leaders in Massachusetts, and colleagues called his departure "devastating" for Framingham.

Before Framingham, Wong was Hudson's health director, and served as president of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association. He was hired in 2017 by former Town Manager Bob Halpin.

Framingham Deputy Health Director Alexandra DePalo, who Wong brought with him from Hudson, has been acting health director since January.

Spicer has picked Dr. Monifa Charles, 42, a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service official, to be Wong's replacement. Charles still has to be confirmed by the City Council. She was chosen from 11 applicants by a panel including Framingham Chief Diversity Officer Maritsa Barros and Health Board members Gillian Carcia, David Moore and Laura Houseman.

Wong is taking over OLRH from retiring director Ron O’Connor, who worked at DPH for over 30 years. Wong will likely begin the new job at OLRH by the end of June, Hugo said.