LIBERTY – Sullivan County Public Health Director Karen Holden is moving on to work in the Career and Tech Education program at Sullivan County BOCES, announced Commissioner of Health and Human Services in Sullivan County, John Liddle, before the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature last week.

In light of this, Deputy Public Health Director Jill Hubert-Simon will assume the position. 

“[Hubert-Simon] has a vast knowledge of community health and public health,” noted Holden. “She has worked in numerous roles at Public Health and Public Health educator is where she began.”

Holden said that Hubert-Simon is affectionately known as the “Tick Chick” because of all the education that she has done regarding tick-borne illnesses in the community.

“She worked her way up to Community Health Coordinator and then to Deputy Director,” Holden said. “I’m very excited to see where she and the team continue to take public health.

“I sincerely enjoyed my time at Public Health,” Holden said. “I’ve built some really fantastic professional relationships with people, both in Public Health as well as the rest of the County of Sullivan. I look forward to continuing to nurture those relationships in a different capacity.”

Holden told the Democrat that the opportunity with Sullivan BOCES arose and it fit with her life at this time. 

“I’m going to be working with some incredibly talented educators that I have actually worked with before in different capacities,” Holden stated. “So I am extremely excited to be able to be doing that.”

Liddle talked about everything Holden has done for the Department of Public Health since she began as its Coordinator of Quality and Training in 2018. 

“Karen Holden has been our Public Health Director through some extremely challenging times,” said Liddle. “Before she became Director, she organized Sullivan County’s max vaccination clinics, which may have literally saved thousands of lives. She saved our Home Health Agency from dissolution and improved our fiscal standing and compliance. She has made, through her leadership, substantial increases to community collaboration, education and outreach. We’re very proud of the work that has been done across the Public Health Department.”

Liddle noted that the duty of a Public Health Director is a very heavy load and that the opportunity she has earned with Sullivan BOCES will continue in her service to the county. 

“I am so grateful for the blood, sweat and tears,” Liddle stated. “Just phenomenal work on behalf of everyone in this county. On behalf of her staff and everyone else in the division, we are going to miss her and thank her very much for everything she has done.”

Holden was named Acting Director of Sullivan County’s Office of Public Health on March 3, 2023, after holding the position of Deputy Director of Public Health since February of 2022. A few months after joining Public Health, Holden became the Director of Patient Services. 

On the day that the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdowns began, March 13, 2020, Holden was named the Supervisor of Epidemiology. During this difficult period, her performance impressed her superiors enough for her to be elevated to Deputy Director of Public Health as the pandemic was fading. 

“I think it underscored how vitally important public health is to the health and safety of our community,” Holden said.

“I am very proud to have worked alongside so many fantastic professionals. I also think it was a great opportunity for Public Health to build a lot - either build or strengthen relationships we already had with our community partners. Those relationships are still at play and will continue to help improve the outcomes of our community overall.”

Holden said that Public Health has a great relationship with BOCES through a lot of their work with Covid-19 and she is excited to work with high school students. 

She worked as a Clinical Adjunct Instructor at SUNY Sullivan in 2008 and 2009. Adding to her educational experience is when she did education and training at Garnet Health when it was Catskill Regional Medical Center, both for the hospital itself and in the skilled nursing unit. 

“Providing education and making sure that you develop talent within your local community that can serve those who are most in need is really important,” Holden noted. “We know that that is something that is vitally needed in our community.” 

Holden noted that the best thing she has done is encouraging people in different positions of Public Health to have autonomy and be the shining stars that they are.

“They’re the ones who deserve the recognition,” said Holden. “Please take the time to get to know more of your Public Health people.”

Recognition 

from Legislators 

Chair of the Health and Human Services and District 3 Legislator Cat Scott noted that she was surprised that Holden is resigning as Public Health Director, but she wishes her well. 

“I appreciate the work that Karen has put in as Director of Public Health,” said Scott. “I wish her the best of luck in her new position, teaching young CNAs how to care for their patients.”

“For the ability that you presented for the county, the leadership that you had for staffing and what you provided the county during one of the hardest times that many of us have faced should at least be recognized,” said District 3 Legislator Brian McPhillips. 

Brian McPhillips noted that he relied heavily upon Holden for education and took the knowledge to his facility role at New Hope and implemented it for the people that they support there. 

“I just think you should be recognized and I know you’re pushing [the recognition] to your staff as well,” Brian McPhillips said. “It’s a big loss for us and I wish you good luck in your future.”