Oneida County’s new director of health begins new duties

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County’s new director of health is settling into his role after Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. on Dec. 14 announced he appointed Daniel Gilmore to the position.

Before his new appointment, Gilmore was the Oneida County director of environmental health for more than 13 years.

He succeeds Phyllis Ellis, who retired Dec. 16 after seven years of serving in the same role. 

“Dan Gilmore has been a valuable member of our health department … and he will do a tremendous job leading it through these tumultuous times,” Picente contended in a release. “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.”

Gilmore has been the director of environmental health for Oneida County since July 2007 and currently represents the county on the executive committee of the New York State Conference of Environmental Health Directors. 

Prior to working for Oneida County, Gilmore had a 25-year career in the field of forestry and natural resources, where he worked as a timber harvester, sawmill hand, seasonal employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), industrial forester, graduate student, and university assistant professor and researcher.

More about Gilmore 

Gilmore earned a master’s degree in public health from the University at 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 of Maine in 1995, where he was inducted into the Xi Sigma Pi National Honor Society of Forest Resources. 

He also holds a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Maine; a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, science, and technology from Empire State College; an associate degree in business administration from North Country Community College, and an associate degree in forestry from Paul Smith’s College.

Gilmore served on the Town of Forestport Planning Board from 2006-2013 and as a volunteer NYS DEC Sportsmen Education Instructor from 2006-2018. He is currently VP of the White-Otter Fish and Game Club in Woodgate. 

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 in Rome with his wife, Lisa, and has a second home in the Forestport area, where he and his wife are developing a family Christmas tree farm, Oneida County said.