County health commissioner named public health professional of the year
GOSHEN — Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Jean M. Hudson has been Public Health Professional of the Year by the New York State Association of County Health Officials.
Hudson is the immediate past president of the statewide public health advocacy and information organization.
“To be recognized as the top of the field by her profession’s leading state organization is true testament to Dr. Hudson’s experience, expertise and commitment to public health,” County Executive Edward A. Diana said in a press release announcing the commissioner’s selection.
Sought input from across the state
As president of the association, Hudson led the group’s efforts to ensure that Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill about college immunization records that would have hampered public health officials’ ability to respond to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases on college campuses.
She represented local health departments on the stakeholder workgroup that helped develop the new state health improvement plan, also known as the Prevention Agenda, and she contributed to the statewide DASH-NY obesity prevention project.
“Jean made it her goal, a goal she achieved, to personally reach out to every local health department leader in the state to gain their input on strengthening (the) an association,” said Marie Cross Ostoyich, the Greene County public health director and the group’s current president. “If you don’t think this kept her busy enough, Jean also teaches at the New York Medical College as a distinguished lecturer of epidemiology and community health.”
Commissioner since 2003
Under Hudson’s leadership, the county health department participated in an innovative Sugary Beverage project as part of its Healthy Orange efforts to combat chronic disease. She also led outstanding public outreach in her county to prevent West Nile Virus, whooping cough and flu and responded to public health issues following Tropical Storms Irene and Lee as well as Super Storm Sandy.
Hudson, a resident of Campbell Hall, has been commissioner of health since 2003.