From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale Burstein

December 4, 2014                      

CONTACT: Mary C. St. Mary/Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov

Phone: 716.858.4941/ Mobile: 716.253.3925

 Commissioner of Health Feted for Work in Erie County

Focus on Adolescent Health & STD Treatment and Prevention Noted

ERIE COUNTY, NY—As part of the New York Department of Health’s observation of World AIDS Day 2014, Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Department of Health (“ECDOH”) Commissioner, was recognized for her outstanding work in the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (“STD”), particularly in the adolescent population of Erie County.

On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, Dr. Burstein, was presented an award on behalf of Acting State Health Commissioner Howard A. Zucker, MD, JD, as part of “Recognizing HIV Heroes” during the World AIDS Day 2014 Commissioner’s Special Recognition Awards Ceremony in Albany.

In the award category of “Reducing STD Infections”, it was noted that Dr. Burstein has conducted health services research to identify barriers and successful strategies to improve the delivery of confidential sexual health services for adolescents. She has collaborated with New York State and national policy experts to address the challenge of confidential adolescent sexual health services as a health policy issue.

In addition to her role as Commissioner of Health, Dr. Burstein is also a clinical professor at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Services; serves as the adolescent committee chair of the New York Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a board certified adolescent medicine physician, providing STD care to adolescents.

In a separate recognition, the New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute paid tribute posthumously to ECDOH’s HIV Training Assistant, Rosetta Menifee.  She was honored “for her leadership, dedication, and courage to empower people and make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”  Ms. Menifee passed away in June of 2014.

Thank you, New York State Department of Health, for recognizing the outstanding contributions of both Dr. Burstein and Ms. Menifee.

For more information

The Erie County Department of Health provides free, confidential screening for HIV at their walk-in Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic at 608 William Street, Buffalo, NY, 14206. For additional information and hours, contact the clinic at 716-858-7687.

Erie County Department of Health -- http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=sexually-transmitted-disease-clinics

New York State Department of Health -- https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/std/