Kingston, N.Y. – Citing his commitment to the "tradition of Florence Nightingale’s health agenda" and for "adding his own innovations from the 21st century," Ulster County Executive Mike Hein was awarded the 2011 Honorary Recognition Award for Distinguished Service to the Profession of Nursing and the Community. The County Executive was honored yesterday by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) District 11 Ulster & Greene County Nurses at their annual dinner.
"I am honored to receive this award," said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. "This recognition acknowledges my administration’s commitment to making Ulster County the healthiest County in New York State. I will continue working diligently with all of the hard-working nurses in Ulster County to improve the quality of public health and to make our community a healthier and happier place to live, work and raise a family."
"Florence Nightingale was committed to excellence in the provision of consumer-driven community health, rehabilitation and support services," said Director of the Ulster County Office for the Aging and NYSNA member Anne Cardinale. "She worked collaboratively with her clients, their families and service providers. Ulster County Executive Mike Hein has chosen to undertake the mission of providing caring and compassionate services of distinctive value that are culturally sensitive, client-centered, safe and affordable to all Ulster County residents. He is committed to taking the tradition of Nightingale’s health agenda and adding his own innovations to make Ulster County the healthiest County in New York State."
In order to proceed toward accomplishing the goal of making Ulster County the healthiest County in New York State, County Executive Hein has taken numerous actions, which include, but are not limited to:
- Creating the Healthy Ulster County program, which sets forth the goal of making Ulster County the healthiest county in New York;
- Reorganizing the Ulster County Health Department, including recruiting and hiring a CDC-trained physician and public health specialist with world class credentials to lead the department;
- Appointing three noted area doctors: Dr. Mark Tack, Dr. Thomas Stellato, Dr. Dominique Delma, and Dr. Ivan Godfrey to the Board of Health;
- Webcasting an anti-bullying seminar to schools countywide;
- Making Sojourner Truth Park free and ADA accessible to all County residents;
- Hosting a presentation, workshop and awareness campaign on Lyme Disease Prevention known as "Be Tick Free in Ulster County";
- Organizing and hosting Domestic Violence Awareness events;
- Offering free vaccinations for Ulster County’s vulnerable populations;
- Collaborating with community partners on a targeted anti-childhood obesity campaign;
- Hosting Men's Health Month; and
- Working with the Ulster County Tobacco Free Action Coalition on an ongoing initiative to prevent the marketing of tobacco products to youth and to work toward a county-wide ban on smoking in public recreation areas.
County Executive Hein was honored at the annual Nurses Week dinner on Wednesday, May 11, held this year at Twin Lakes Resort in Hurley, New York. District 11 of the NYSNA was founded in 1919 by three alumnae associations in Ulster and Orange counties. Today District 11 encompasses registered professional nurses who live and work in Ulster and Greene Counties.
