About the Department of Public Health

Learn about the Department of Public Health (DPH) mission and vision, strategic priorities, and organizational structure.

DPH mission and vision

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to promote and protect health and wellness and prevent injury and illness for all people, prioritizing racial equity in health by improving equitable access to quality public health and health care services and partnering with communities most impacted by health inequities and structural racism. 

We envision a Commonwealth with an equitable and just public health system that supports optimal well-being for all people in Massachusetts, centering those with systemically and culturally oppressed identities and circumstances. 

DPH strategic priorities

The DPH Strategy Map (PDF) | (Doc) outlines our strategic priorities: 

• Health equity, centering racial equity 
• Emergency preparedness & response 
• Strong public health workforce 
• Modernized public health infrastructure 
• Enhanced public service

To learn more about DPH and what we do, download:

• DPH at a Glance (PDF) | (Doc)
• DPH Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity (PDF) | (Doc)
• DPH Health Equity Approach (PDF) | (Doc)

DPH structure

View DPH staff and organizational structure:

• DPH Structure (PDF) | (Doc)
• DPH Organization Chart: Senior Managers - Updated January 2024 (PDF) | (Doc)
• DPH bureau and program directory
• DPH staff directory