Picente appoints new director of health

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced monday that he has appointed Oneida County Director of Environmental health Dr. Daniel Gilmore as the new county director of health.

Gilmore assumes the position from Phyllis Ellis, BSN, MS, FACHE, who is retiring on Dec. 16 after seven years of serving as Oneida County director of health. Picente extended his sincerest gratitude to Ellis after he announced her retirement last week. Her retirement was pre- planned and well- deserved, Picente said.

“Dan Gilmore has been a valuable member of our Health Department for the past 13 years and he will do a tremendous job leading it through these tumultuous times,” Picente said in his appointment announcement. “His expertise, knowledge and experience will provide for a smooth leadership transition and continued steady response to the challenges presented by the COVID- 19 pandemic and beyond.”

According to county officials, Gilmore has been the environmental health director for Oneida County since July 2007 and currently represents the county on the New York State Conference of Environmental Health Directors Executive Committee.

Prior to his employment with the county, officials report that Gilmore had a 25- year career in the field of forestry and natural resources where he was employed as a timber harvester, sawmill hand, NYS DEC seasonal employee, industrial forester, graduate student, and university assistant professor and researcher.

Gilmore earned a Masters in Public Health from the University of Albany School of Public Health in 2017 and was inducted into Delta Omega National Honor Society of Public Health. He received a Doctorate in Forestry and Natural Resources at the University ofmaine in 1995 where hewas inducted into thexi Sigma Pi National Honor Society of Forest Resources.

He also holds a Master of Science in Forestry from the University of Maine; a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Science, and Technology from Empire State College; an Associate of Science in Business Administration from North Country Community College; and an Associate of Applied Science in Forestry from Paul Smith’s College.

“I am honored to have been selected by County Executive Picente to lead our Health Department and am looking forward to building upon the solid foundation that was laid before me,” Gilmore said. “I know that we have an excellent team in place that is ready to meet the needs of this community and will continue to give its all to secure the health and safety of the residents of Oneida County.”

Gilmore served on the Town of Forestport Planning Board from 2006 through 2013 and as a volunteernys DEC Sportsmen Education Instructor from 2006 through 2018, officials report. He is currently vicepresident of the White- Otter Fish and Game Club in Woodgate.

A published author, with articles and pieces appearing in several health and environmental journals and publications, Gilmore grew up in Utica and has lived in the Saranac Lake Region of New York; Old Town, Maine; Grande Prairie, Alberta; and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He now resides with his wife, Lisa, in rome, and has a second home in Forest port where he and his wife are developing a family Christmas tree farm.

Daniel Gilmore