Barbara Ferrer

executive director, Boston Public Health Commission

Barbara Ferrer PhD, MPH, M Ed, is the Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. Dr. Ferrer was appointed to lead the Commission in 2007 based on her years of public health experience and her commitment to serving the needs of all Bostonians, particularly vulnerable populations. She had previously spent five years as the Commissions Deputy Director where she played a key role working on topics ranging from AIDS, to developing strategies to reduce Bostons infant mortality rate. She also helped launch the city's groundbreaking work to end racial and ethnic health disparities. Dr. Ferrer holds a masters in Public Health from Boston University and a Doctorate from the Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare at Brandeis University, where she was a Pew Doctoral Fellow.