ELMIRA – Linda Swarthout has been recognized as Chemung County Health Department’s representative on New York State’s ‘2011 Public Health Works! Honor Roll’.  Ms. Swarthout, a registered nurse and the County’s Public Health Educator, was selected as the County representative by Robert Page, Public Health Director.

The Public Health Works! Honor Roll recognizes the important and crucial work performed by public health workers.  Each local health department selects one outstanding employee for inclusion in the yearly Honor Roll.  Honor Roll members strive to prevent disease and promote good health and exhibit a continued and significant commitment to improving health in the community.

In selecting Swarthout, Robert Page noted, “Linda has performed her duties as Public Health Educator in an outstanding manner since 1988 when she began her public health career at the Chemung County Health Department.  Her career has been distinguished by her ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of community partners on initiatives to further public health objectives.  She has been the Chemung County Health Department's lead person on numerous community coalitions and grant projects including: Co-founder of the County's AIDS Task Force, Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Community Partnership (a coalition of 3 counties), Cancer Services Program, Adult Immunization Coalition of the Southern Tier, various grants and programs under Community Capacity Building for Health Promotion, and the County's Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program.”

“Her leadership and passion for public health initiatives have brought together diverse groups to accomplish public health goals in a spirit of partnership and shared responsibility.  Not only has she been extremely effective in her outreach and coalition-building role, but she is also a key member of the Health Department's Management Team.  She has major roles in emergency preparedness and played a leading part in the H1N1 pandemic of 2009-2010.  Linda is a true public health professional and serves as a role model for the entire department,” added Page.