Oldenburg Honored at State Conference

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Health Department proudly announces that one of its own – Diane Oldenburg – received the Hermann M. Biggs Memorial Medal and Certificate during the 2026 New York State Public Health Partnership Conference in April.

“Diane is a fine example of our dedicated workforce,” said Oswego County Legislator Paul House, District 8, chairman of the Oswego County Legislature’s Health Committee. “She has served the people of this county for nearly 35 years and her commitment to them remains steadfast and sure. Her enthusiasm shines through in her work, focused on the well-being of our residents, and the larger community. We’re fortunate to have her on our staff.”

Oldenburg, an associate public health educator with the Oswego County Health Department, oversees its Public Health Education and Emergency Preparedness Division.

She worked with the County’s Emergency Management Office to develop a “Cloudy Skies, Clear Messages: Risk Communication Workshop” and did a presentation about that collaboration at last month’s conference as well.

“To be nominated for this award is truly humbling,” said Oldenburg. “I’m honored to stand with its past recipients and accept the recognition.

“We all know that public health is a team effort,” she continued. “I couldn’t do this job without my incredible staff – or the fantastic directors I’ve been lucky enough to work with over the years. I’ve learned something from each one that helped shape my experiences and build the career for which I’m so thankful today.”

Oldenburg has been at the forefront of several public health crises in her three decades of service: the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic; a hepatitis A outbreak in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic the following year.

“Diane’s public health expertise helped guide our department and the community through these challenges and elevate the visibility of quality public health,” said Oswego County Public Health Director Vera Dunsmoor. “She is highly respected by her staff, peers and other community partners. She consistently responds to those seeking guidance with unwavering compassion and professionalism. We couldn’t be more proud to have her on our team.”

Oldenburg has been a key contributor to several nationally recognized public health initiatives, including “Smoke Free for My Baby and Me,” “The Healthy Highway,” Strategic National Stockpile exercises in coordination with annual Girl Scout cookie distribution; and the Oswego County COVID-19 Phone Bank.

“Throughout her career, Diane has been passionate about improving public health through innovation and collaboration,” said Oswego County Deputy Public Health Director Jodi Martin. “Whether it’s with her staff, her students, or her peers, she works hard to develop and share best practices to achieve that goal.”

Oldenburg spearheaded the development of the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and was instrumental in the recent accreditation process in which Oswego County Health Department became accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). She also assisted in the creation of the Oswego County Public Health and Safety Team (PHAST) and the Overdose Fatality Review Team, strengthening the county’s collaborative response to critical health issues.

Every year, Oldenburg and her team mark National Public Health Week by raising awareness about the programs and resources available to residents. Highlights include a Kids’ Day with activities such as the “Smoothie Bike,” mammogram van services, blood drives, and an art show highlighting the importance of mental health. They also coordinate with other county and community partners to feature emergency preparedness, senior care and caregiver support, overdose education and prevention including Naloxone (Narcan) training, disease prevention and immunizations, environmental health hazards and protections, and poison prevention education.

Beyond her work at the health department, Oldenburg also serves on multiple boards around the county including as chair of the Oswego County Rural Health Network’s Membership Committee. She is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Oswego County, and an adjunct professor in SUNY Oswego’s Health Promotion and Wellness Department, further demonstrating the value she places on health education and community engagement.

“Diane is an inspiration for the next generation of public health professionals,” said Martin. “Sharing her passion for education and her ‘real world’ experiences, she has the opportunity to pass on first-hand knowledge and instill in her students the importance of protecting and improving public health well into the future.”

Dunsmoor agreed, adding, “Even in the day-to-day, Diane’s ability to lead and champion meaningful public health initiatives have positively impacted countless residents throughout our communities and made Oswego County a safer and healthier place to live, work and grow.”

The Hermann M. Biggs Memorial Medal and Certificate is a lifetime achievement award recognizing an individual with demonstrated outstanding achievements in public health in New York State. It is named in honor of Biggs, a physician and former New York State Commissioner of Health. His work in the study of bacteriology and its use in controlling and preventing the spread of infectious diseases was ground-breaking in the early 20th century.

The Legislature’s Health Committee oversees the Health Department. In addition to Legislator House, committee members include Vice Chairman Roy E. Reehil, District 5; Gena Bartlett, District 24; Dorothy Caldwell, District 17; Richard Kline, District 12; Michael Solowy, District 23; and Lee B. Walker, Jr., District 15.

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