Patrick chooses health council

Governor Deval Patrick turned to seasoned medical professionals yesterday to fill 11 vacancies on the state's Public Health Council, marking a departure from his predecessor.

The appointees, who will set public health policy in Massachusetts, include Springfield's health director, the leader of a Haitian health institute, the chief of pediatrics at Boston Medical Center, and the former president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

"It's a council of people whom we can expect to make policy based on science with minimal politics involved," said Geoffrey Wilkinson, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, a confederation of local and state health officials.

Governor Mitt Romney named members to the council who lacked healthcare experience, and critics believe the council's policy decisions were driven not by science, but by Romney's political ambitions. In one case, the council reversed at Romney's behest a ban it had approved on the distribution of infant formula gift bags on maternity wards.

When two members of the council expressed dismay at Romney's intrusion, the governor moved swiftly to replace them. Romney appointed three members last year, two lawyers and a former business executive, none of whom had a background in healthcare.

Partly in response to Romney's actions, legislators ordered an overhaul of the council as part of the healthcare reform measure. The law gave interest groups and universities the right to directly appoint some members.

But Romney sued to thwart the shift in the board's composition, and lawmakers compromised by allowing Romney's successor to appoint all 15 members while still requiring that the administration solicit input from groups such as the Public Health Association and Health Care for All.

One of the new appointees, Paul J. Lanzikos, said last night that he was keenly aware of the state's position as the birthplace of public health.

"We've lost some of that luster in the last few years," said Lanzikos, executive director of North Shore Elder Services. "I hope the reconstituted council can restore some of that."

Another new member, Dr. Barry Zuckerman, said he was motivated to accept the appointment by a desire to bridge persistent gaps in health status among ethnic and racial groups.

In addition to Lanzikos and Zuckerman, the other new members are:

Helen R. Caulton-Harris, Springfield health director.

Dr. Michele David, codirector of Boston Medical's Haitian Health Institute.

Dr. Muriel Gillick, an end-of-life specialist at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates .

Dr. Philip C. Nasca , a University of Massachusetts epidemiologist whose work focuses on cancers affecting women.

Lucilia Prates Ramos , director of the Massachusetts Medicare & Medicaid Outreach & Education Program .

Jose Rafael Rivera , a specialist in substance abuse prevention at the Central Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities .

Albert Sherman , the only holdover on the council and a vice chancellor at the UMass-Worcester campus.

Dr. Michael Wong , an HIV specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center .

Dr. Alan Woodward , former head of the Massachusetts Medical Society and emergency chief at Emerson Hospital .

The governor is expected to fill the three remaining slots on the council within a few weeks, administration officials said.

Stephen Smith can be reached at stsmith@globe.com.