New NY health commissioner takes over from embattled Zucker

New NY health commissioner takes over from embattled Zucker

FILE - Dr. Mary Bassett, New York City's health commissioner, addresses the media during a news conference in New York, Aug. 8, 2015. Bassett, currently director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, is New York's new state new health commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New state health commissioner Mary Bassett stepped into her role Wednesday, at a time when COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise in New York. The former New York City health commissioner led the city department’s response to Ebola and other disease outbreaks. Public health leaders hope Bassett will and usher in an era of collaboration with local governments and address public health issues and health disparities. Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday that she’ll introduce Bassett as the health department’s new leader Thursday.

Photo: FILE – Dr. Mary Bassett, New York City’s health commissioner, addresses the media during a news conference in New York, Aug. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)