Monica Bharel

Monica Bharel was the commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, appointed in February 2015. On May 27, 2021, Bharel announced she will be stepping down effective June 18. Bharel is an associate professor of medicine at Boston University.

She earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed her residency in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital/Boston Medical Center. She received her master of public health degree through the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy.

She practiced general internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Medical Center and the Veterans Administration. She taught at Harvard Medical School, Boston University School of Medicine, and Harvard School of Public Health. Bharel was a leader in the creation of the Public Health Data Warehouse in 2017, as part of the newly created Office of Population Health. Immediately before becoming commissioner, she served as the chief medical officer of Boston Health Care for the Homeless.

In 2022, Bharel was honored by Massachusetts Medical Society with its Special Award for Excellence in Medical Service and Woman Physician Leadership.