Town Administrator James McGrail, the Marion Board of Health, and Council on Aging Director Karen Gregory are pleased to announce the hiring of Lori Desmarais to the position of public health nurse as well as the relocation of the office of the public health nurse to the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center.
Desmarais has over 25 years of experience as a registered nurse, including as a medical-surgical nurse and private duty/home care nurse, as well as experience in staff education, infection control, and public health.
Desmarais has worked as the public health nurse at the Town of Dighton since June 2019, the Town of Lakeville since April 2018 and the Town of Freetown since December 2014. In these positions she coordinates communicable disease investigations, case management, immunization clinics, collaborative wellness programs with community groups and more. She has also performed COVID-19 case investigations and contact tracing in her service areas. Desmarais will serve in a similar capacity in her new position administering the public health program for the Town of Marion.
Desmarais holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is a licensed registered nurse. She is a licensed emergency medical technician and has served as a call firefighter for the Freetown Fire Department since March 2019.
“We are very pleased to welcome Lori to the town and look forward to seeing the knowledge, skills, and abilities she will bring to the public health nurse position,” Town Administrator McGrail said.
The office of the public health nurse will also be relocated from Marion Town House to the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill St. Desmarais will be located in the Community Center when she begins in her new role on Tuesday, September 8.
The public health nurse provides a variety of services to Marion’s senior population. As the Council on Aging is currently located at the Community Center, the new office location will be more convenient for seniors and will enhance the level of service already provided by the public health nurse.
“We are excited for the opportunity that the office transition will offer for the continued collaboration between the Board of Health, public health nurse, and the Council on Aging,” Director Gregory said.