Statement from New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett on Public Health Thank You Day

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 21, 2022) - "In recognition of Public Health Thank You Day, we honor the dedicated individuals who are the backbone of the New York State Department of Health, as well as the teams of public health specialists with whom we collaborate at local health departments and in the surrounding communities.

We applaud their commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers through improving access to preventive care, harm reduction services, and healthier behaviors.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving this week, we are grateful for the often unrecognized efforts of our frontline public health workers who have faced the simultaneous threats of polio and monkeypox and the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses like RSV. We extend our gratitude to these selfless professionals - our public health heroes - for everything they have accomplished during such trying times."