The National Association of County and City Health Officials (“NACCHO”) has recognized the Erie County Department of Health (“ECDOH”) as “Large Local Health Department of the Year” at the 2018 NACCHO annual conference held this week in New Orleans. ECDOH received the award as a result of the Department’s community-wide leadership in developing programs and strategies to combat the opioid epidemic.

“This recognition from NACCHO is a testament to the hard work that the men and women of the Erie County Department of Health have done to confront the scourge of opioid abuse on all fronts. Dr. Burstein and county health department personnel have demonstrated leadership, foresight, vision, and compassion as they’ve worked with individuals and agencies from all perspectives surrounding the opioid issue to find solutions that save lives, and their ongoing efforts are bearing fruit,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “We are seeing a downward trend in opioid fatalities in 2018, thanks primarily to the work done by the Erie County Opioid Task Force under the leadership and direction of Dr. Burstein and ECDOH as well as our Department of Mental Health. NACCHO’s recognition of their work is well-deserved and I congratulate Dr. Burstein and the Health Department on it.”

“I thank NACCHO for this award and their recognition of the work we have done here in Erie County, which would not have happened without the leadership of County Executive Poloncarz,” said Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “We will continue working hard every day and in all areas to protect public health, working with partners to build a healthier and safer community.”

For more information:

On NACCHO, visit www.naccho.org  

On the Erie County Department of Health, visit http://www2.erie.gov/health/  

# # #