Public Health Works! Honor Roll

The Public Health Works! Honor Roll recognizes the local public health workforce as an essential component of Commissioner of Health James V. McDonald public health agenda to improve the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and to promote health equity in all populations who experience disparities. At the heart of all successful public health initiatives are the workers who promote and protect the public's health and safety.

Featured Public Health Employee(s)

Essex County Department of Health

  • Andrea Whitmarsh, Program Coordinator

    • 8 Years of Service

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrea Whitmarsh willingly and tirelessly shifted her responsibilities to one of the most pressing needs of the pandemic, communications. Having received training as a Public Information Officer, along with experience in public health messaging, marketing and communications, Andrea was an excellent fit to meet the community’s insatiable demand for constant communications and information.

    Thousands of people were reached, engaged with, and shared information on the Essex County Health Department’s primary social media platform, Facebook. Followers commented and asked questions on posts and she read and responded professionally and repeatedly at all times of the day and night. She responded to inquiries from the media, schools, business owners, hospitals, nursing homes, and so many public and private entities seeking the most current guidance and information from a local source.

    She was promoted to Program Coordinator and continues to act as a member of the Department’s leadership team. As the pandemic demands lessened, Andrea took on a new responsibility, working on the Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan. She re-engaged community based organizational partners, launched a community survey, identified new data sources, and used new data visualizations to help provide snapshots of data by topic. She provided presentations on community needs and the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan to the Department’s new staff, governing bodies, community-based coalitions and communities and stakeholders.

    Essex County Health Department proudly recognizes Andrea Whitmarsh for the devotion she provides to the Department and its vision of Healthy People in Healthy Communities.

View all the members of the Honor Roll

All Honor Rolls

About Local Health Departments

New York State relies on its local health departments to promote, protect and improve the health of residents. The core public health services administered by New York's 57 local health departments and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene include Communicable Disease Control, Chronic Disease Prevention, Community Health Assessment, Environmental Health, and Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Without these local health departments and their dedicated employees, these essential services would not be provided. The Honor Roll recognizes the outstanding workers that keep New Yorkers healthy.

For more information on the local health departments in New York State, please visit the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) Website.