hopkinton-independent-logo2x
Hopkinton, MA
loader-image
Hopkinton, US
10:07 am, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
63°F
57 %
Wind Gust: 6 mph
Clouds: 56%
Sunrise: 6:21 am
Sunset: 4:37 pm

SIGN UP TODAY!
BREAKING NEWS & DAILY NEWSLETTER

Letter to the Editor: Mannan for Board of Health

by | Apr 23, 2026 | Letter to Editor

I support Nasiba Mannan 100% to retain her position as a member of the Board of Health (BOH) in Hopkinton.

My name is Rick Jacobs. I received my M.D. at UMass Medical School. I served as chair of radiology at Memorial Hospital (now UMass Memorial Hospital) and then served as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Parexel (a life science research company based in Massachusetts with 20,000 employees worldwide).

I also served on the BOH of Hopkinton for six years, the last two of which I was the chair and Nasiba was a member. I still attend the BOH meetings as a private citizen. From my perspective, I was fortunate that Nasiba was a board member throughout my tenure as chair.

Nasiba is uniquely qualified to retain her position as a member of the BOH for the following reasons:

— She is committed to strengthening how the Health Department communicates with our community.

— She is well-liked by town leadership and members of the Health Department for her good nature, quite strength and full commitment to fairly addressing issues facing the BOH and the town at large.

— She is a serial volunteer who has contributed materially to every committee in town on which she has served (Cultural Council, Veterans Celebration Committee, Hopkinton Women’s Club).

— She is an executive health care quality and compliance leader in her professional life, so she understands the regulatory environment at the town and state level.

Please join me in voting for Nasiba Mannan for the BOH on May 18.

— Dr. Rick Jacobs, former chair, Hopkinton BOH, and former member, Hopkinton Cultural Council

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking sponsors or volunteers. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions for the print edition, click here.

0 Comments

Related Articles

Letter to the Editor: Kyriakides statue inspires

When I first moved to Hopkinton, my daily routine consisted of an exhausting bus ride home after a rough school day. Looking out the window, I almost always noticed a statue, what seemed like a runner being guided forward by another man. At first, it was just part...

Letter to the Editor: HHS seniors deserve DJ money

I am writing to express my strong disappointment regarding Select Board vice chair Matt Kizner’s opposition to allocating $2,000 toward a DJ for the Hopkinton High School senior class party. What makes this objection particularly frustrating is that these funds do...

Letter to the Editor: What is Town Meeting, and what should it be?

On Oct. 26, Hopkinton residents will gather for something remarkable: the opportunity to govern themselves directly. In towns like ours, voters can debate, amend and vote on local legislation — and introduce citizen petitions. But having a voice in government and...

Letter to the Editor: Fairness of tobacco regulation hearing questioned

Hopkinton Health Director Shaun McAuliffe told the Independent (“McAuliffe responds to convenience store lobby claims over tobacco regulations,” Oct. 9) that the town is “not colluding” with outside agencies on Nicotine-Free Generation, and that any claim the...

Letter to the Editor: Civil for Governor’s Council

Tamisha Civil, candidate for reelection to District 2 of the Governor’s Council, is in a competitive race. The Governor’s Council plays a vital role in checks and balances in vetting judges, approving governor appointees and overseeing pardons and commutations. A...

Key Storage 4.14.22