$300 Million Slashed Needlessly by US Department of Health and Human Services Forces Premature End of NYS Public Health Corps Fellowship Program
Cruel Cuts to NYS Department of Health, NYS Office of Addiction Supports and Services, NYS Office of Mental Health will Affect Vulnerable Residents Statewide
ERIE COUNTY, NY— The impact of the Trump/Musk regime’s continuing efforts to disrupt, dismantle and destroy the nation’s public health infrastructure will be felt in Erie County as soon as next month. The New York State Department of Health (“NYSDOH”) has notified Erie County and the Erie County Department of Health (“ECDOH”) that the New York State Public Health Corps Fellowship Program will end as of May 30 following federal announcements of sweeping cuts to public health, mental health and addiction services. This premature end to a critical health program that saves lives is effectively a loss of $300 million in federal funding inflicted on NYS by the regime.
“This is just one example of countless programs that are evaporating into thin air as a result of the malicious whims and absolute madness of what passes for current federal policy,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “The work of the New York State Public Health Corps saved lives. There are many reasons why the program should grow, especially when diseases such as measles are making a comeback. Instead, this important program is being eliminated in order to give tax cuts to Elon Musk and the richest Americans, who all should be paying their fair share. It is wrong and will only result in our fellow citizens being hurt.”
The current iteration of this innovative program was funded through federal grants awarded to NYSDOH, employing seven public health fellows in seven ECDOH programs. The seven programs included epidemiology, tuberculosis control, food access programs, communication, environmental health, emergency preparedness and harm reduction. A previous iteration of this program placed about 100 fellows in ECDOH and dozens of community-based organizations.
“The current cohort of fellows works alongside professional public health staff in a variety of roles in clinical care, tuberculosis control, food access programs, communication, emergency preparedness and harm reduction,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “We have been extremely supportive of the Public Health Fellows program as it is a strong pipeline for future public health professionals. Many public health fellows have Master of Public Health degrees or came into the program with other impressive credentials and experience, all looking to commit to a future in the public health field. Thanks to this federal administration’s capriciousness, we’re losing that.”
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