Dr. Alfred DeMaria Jr.
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Dr. Alfred DeMaria Jr. has received the honor of a lifetime.
After a decades-long commitment devoted to infectious disease prevention and a 36-year career at the Department of Public Health, the Commonwealth has officially renamed the Massachusetts Department of Health campus in Jamaica Plain as the "Dr. Alfred DeMaria, Jr. Campus."
At a ceremony held on Wednesday, speakers honoring Dr. DeMaria included Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, State Senator Julian Cyr, and State Representative Daniel Hunt.
Known affectionately as 'Dr. Al,' he said he was honored to receive this recognition. "It's extraordinary having this campus named after me," he said. "I worked here for many years, and I'm very appreciative of the incredible history of this place, and all that was accomplished here over the last 150 years."
Dr. Al served as the state epidemiologist, the chief infectious disease medical officer, and assistant commissioner of the DPH.
DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein spoke of the doctor's legacy. "From the HIV crisis, to H1N1, to Ebola, to Zika, to West Nile, each one of the individuals here has been inspired by you and has a story about your guidance about using science," he said.
Dr. Al said how proud he was to have the campus named after himself, where he spent so much of his life. "It's an honor that I never expected and that is really meaningful to me."
WBZ's James Rojas (@jamesrojas.bsky.social) reports.