It’s National Nurses Week! Meet Moe and Jen, Barnstable County’s Assistant Public Health Nurses
Meet Maurice (Moe) Melchiono, Assistant Public Health Nurse
If you’re ever in need a bit of wisdom, just find Moe, our very own walking encyclopedia and Assistant Public Health Nurse extraordinaire. He’s a wealth of knowledge and experience, and the best part? He’s always happy to share it.
Moe’s passion for nursing started in a place you might not expect, a camping group called the Explorers. During one of their adventures, a nurse shared stories from their work at a children’s hospital. The story started Moe on a path to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he went spent 37 years making a difference in the lives of his patients. He loved being part of meaningful change and making a lasting impact nurses had on children and their families.
But Moe’s journey didn’t stop there. After working closely with underserved and underrepresented communities, he witnessed the impact of health inequity first-hand and was prompted to pursue public health nursing to focus on prevention, education, and advocacy at a community level. Now at BCDHE, Moe is proud to be part of a mission-driven team, serving the people of Cape Cod alongside colleagues who care just as deeply.
When he’s not sharing knowledge or helping others, you might spot Moe in his happy place, Nickerson State Park, taking in the beauty of Big Cliff Pond.
We’re so lucky to have Mo’s big heart, experience, and endless curiosity on our team!
Meet Jennifer McPherson, Assistant Public Health Nurse
Jen may still be figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, but if you get to know her, you’ll discover her dream of one day becoming an alpaca farmer! For now, though, we’re lucky to have her as one of our incredible Assistant Public Health Nurses here at BCDHE.
Jen’s journey into nursing began from a deeply personal place, caring for her mom. That experience sparked a passion that led her to become an EMT, then a Certified Nursing Assistant with the VNA, and eventually a Registered Nurse working in hospital settings. Throughout it all, one thing stayed the same: her love for spending time with patients and having a meaningful impact on their lives.
After years in the hospital world, Jen made a bold move into public health nursing. Why the switch? She saw firsthand the healthcare disparities that exist in our communities and felt called to be part of the solution. At the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, Jen found a workplace that feels like family. She loves working with a close-knit the team and appreciates having the creative freedom has to tackle real-world challenges in ways that matter.
And when she’s not caring for others? You can probably find her at her happy place, Sandy Neck Beach. Rocky terrain and all, it’s her favorite spot to soak up the sun and hunt for sea glass treasures.
We’re so lucky to have Jen’s heart, talent, and (one day) alpaca-farming ambition on our team!
Jen and Moe work under the direction of Public Health Nurse Wendy Judd, who also has worked on Cape Cod as a nurse for over three decades. The County also employs several contract nurses. Together, this amazing team coordinates and runs vaccine clinics, staffs wellness fairs, provides health screenings, conducts outreach and education, gives trainings, and so much more.
To all of the hardworking nurses on Cape Cod, we thank you for your care, knowledge and tireless dedication to our community.
