Voices for the Silent Dr. Monica Bharel anD Dr. Jessie Gaeta Dr. Monica Bharel (right) is the newly appointed commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which regulates the state’s hospitals, nursing homes, and more than 100 programs addressing infectious diseases, substance abuse, and a host of other issues. She was formerly chief medical officer at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which provides healthcare to more than 12,500 homeless adults and children in Greater Boston. Dr. Jessie Gaeta replaced Dr. Bharel as chief medical officer of BHCHP, where she had practiced since 2002. In her advocacy work with the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance, Dr. Gaeta helped design and implement the statewide housing program Home & Healthy for Good, resulting in housing opportunities for more than 800 people. Monica Bharel: This is a very special field, homeless medicine. The medical care is the same, but we have to figure out how to work within the boundaries of a patient’s priorities: Where am I going to sleep tonight? Where am I going to find my next meal? It’s hard for someone to prioritize taking care of
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