Press Release: 10/1/2025
Hundreds gather to celebrate naming the Department of Public Health’s Jamaica Plain campus after longtime public health leader Dr. Alfred DeMaria, Jr.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/01/2025
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Omar Cabrera, Manager of Ethnic Media and Community Outreach
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Call Omar Cabrera, Manager of Ethnic Media and Community Outreach at (617) 624-5006
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BOSTON — In a moving tribute filled with respect, joy, and gratitude, public health officials, legislators, medical professionals, and friends from across Massachusetts gathered on the steps and lawn of the Department of Public Health (DPH) Jamaica Plain campus to celebrate and honor a longtime public health pillar whose name is now linked permanently with the site itself: the Dr. Alfred DeMaria, Jr. Campus.
Dr. DeMaria – affectionately known as “Dr. Al” – is a towering figure in infectious disease and public health. During his 36-year career at DPH, he served in a variety of leadership roles – state epidemiologist, chief medical officer, assistant commissioner, and acting commissioner – defining, advancing, and shaping modern approaches to infectious disease control.
A champion for the health, safety, and well-being of the Commonwealth, Dr. DeMaria led the state’s response to public health threats including HIV/AIDS, H1N1 influenza, Ebola, Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, Zika, and countless food- and water-borne outbreaks. His forward-thinking approach to harm-reduction measures such as syringe access and overdose prevention services set a standard for compassionate care long before these approaches gained wide acceptance. He also spearheaded the nationally recognized Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network (MAVEN), a game-changing breakthrough in disease surveillance.
“For more than three decades, Dr. DeMaria has been a gentle and gracious leader in public health – and a formidable defender of the Commonwealth against infectious disease,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD. “Today’s celebration recognizes a public health icon whose steady guidance, scientific expertise, and deep compassion have made our state heathier and more humane.”
“Dr. Al has stood at the vanguard of public health, shielding our communities from threats far too tiny to see but powerful enough to change lives,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “He has safeguarded the health of millions, pushed the boundaries of infectious disease response, and ignited the passions of legions of public health professionals. Simply put, he is a true rock star of public health – brilliant, compassionate, and on top of it all, an extraordinarily generous and kind person.”
In his remarks, and with characteristic humility, Dr. DeMaria credited his many colleagues over the years for the numerous accomplishments attributed to him. “My colleagues are the true heroes of public health – I was just a part of the team,” he told the crowd of more than 200 admirers, which included five former Commissioners of Public Health. “I understand a little better now what imposter syndrome is about. I certainly never dreamed that something would ever be named for me. I am just so proud to have worked here.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. DeMaria combined scientific rigor with a deep commitment to social justice. He was an early and firm advocate for health and human rights for people too often pushed to society’s margins – individuals who are incarcerated, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people who use drugs, and those living with HIV and viral hepatitis. A history buff, Dr. DeMaria is a strong supporter of the Massachusetts Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, and he continues to be a go-to source on the history of infectious disease and the people who shaped the field.
“Dr. Al engages everyone – from policy makers to medical professionals to local officials to those most disadvantaged in our society – with honesty, transparency, and a credibility earned through decades of steadfast service,” said H. Dawn Fukuda, DPH Assistant Commissioner and Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. “That unwavering trust is one of his greatest legacies.”
The Massachusetts Legislature last year filed the bill to recognize Dr. DeMaria’s extraordinary contributions to public health by naming the campus that has been his professional home for decades in his honor. Governor Maura Healey signed the bill into law last January, paving the way for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Jamaica Plain facility to become the Dr. Alfred DeMaria, Jr. Campus. The sponsors of the bill were Representative Daniel Hunt and Senator Julian Cyr, who both attended and spoke at the celebration.