Announcing the 2015 Hearth Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Monica Bharel, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Executive Office of Health and Human Services)

Monica Bharel, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Executive Office of Health and Human Services)

Hearth is pleased to announce that Dr. Monica Bharel, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, is the 2015 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. The award will be presented at Hearth's 2015 Annual Meeting, where she will also be the keynote speaker.

Dr. Bharel, who became Commissioner in February of this year, is known for her dedication to health care for vulnerable and underserved populations. She was previously Chief Medical Officer of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

"Dr. Bharel understands the impact that homelessness can have on a person’s health,” said Hearth President & CEO Mark Hinderlie. "It's almost impossible to manage the chronic health conditions many of our clients face without housing. "