Erika Woods: Honoring a Career of Public Health Leadership
Pictured left to right: Brian Bjorklund, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services; Erika Woods, BCDHE; Zak Mertz, New England Wildlife Centers; Karl von Hone, Town of Yarmouth (ret.); Ryan Bevilacqua and Alexis Sigillo, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services.
As Deputy Director of the Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment (BCDHE), Erika Woods has dedicated years of service toward improving the health and safety of Cape Cod residents. As she prepares to retire, we celebrate her remarkable career, leadership, and many contributions to public health and environmental protection across the region.
Erika’s public health career includes more than seven years as Assistant Health Agent in Orleans and 11 years as an Environmental Specialist/Sanitarian with Barnstable County before stepping into the Deputy Director role at BCDHE in March 2019. She also served eight months as Interim Director, providing steady leadership during a period of transition. Her deep expertise, steady leadership, and collaborative approach have guided regional efforts in environmental health, public health, emergency preparedness, and inter-municipal partnerships, strengthening collaboration across Cape Cod’s towns.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Erika served as head of operations for Barnstable County’s public health response. In this role, she worked closely with state and local public health partners, municipal public safety, and the Barnstable County Medical Reserve Corps to manage large-scale testing and vaccination operations across the region — coordinating logistics, staffing, and infrastructure to ensure access and community protection.
Erika has also been instrumental in advancing the Cape Cod Hoarding Resource Network, helping individuals and families access education and support related to compulsive hoarding and clutter. Her efforts have positioned BCDHE as a regional connector and educational resource for first responders, health agents, elder services, and residents in need.
In addition, she has been a key leader in regional rabies control, earning recognition for 20 years of service to the Cape Cod & Southeast Massachusetts Rabies Task Force — one of the longest-running and most successful rabies prevention programs in the country. Her commitment to collaboration and long-term prevention has made a lasting impact on both public and animal health across Southeastern Massachusetts.
What Stands Out
- A long-standing track record of service and expertise in environmental and public health.
- A multidisciplinary approach that unites social services, housing, and mental health to address complex community challenges.
- Leading the County’s COVID-19 operational response and strengthening regional preparedness capacity
- Sustaining vital public health programs while continually innovating and adapting to new needs.
Looking Ahead & Legacy
Erika’s leadership has left a lasting imprint on Cape Cod’s public health landscape. From mentoring staff and fostering regional collaboration to strengthening core programs, her influence has shaped the foundation of the department’s success. Her role leading regional COVID-19 operations is a defining example of her steady, service-driven leadership, alongside her work supporting the Hoarding Resource Network and Rabies Task Force. These efforts reflect her compassion, expertise, and deep commitment to community well-being — a legacy that will continue to benefit the region for years to come.
In Gratitude
Thank you, Erika Woods, for your leadership, dedication, and vision. Your work has made a lasting difference in the health and environment of Cape Cod — and your legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of public health professionals.
On behalf of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, we thank you for your many years of service and unwavering commitment to protecting the wellbeing of our communities across Cape Cod..
