State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald visited the 2025 Great New York State Fair in Central New York, where he met with local health leaders to discuss public health issues and engaged with fair attendees about ongoing health initiatives.
“The State Health Department is proud to participate in the Great New York State Fair, where we can provide education on a variety of public health initiatives and discuss careers in public health with thousands of visitors.” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “We encourage all fair goers to stop by the New York State Department of Health booth located in the Science and Industry Building and take the opportunity to speak with Department staff about ways to stay safe and healthy like preventing mosquito and tick-borne illnesses, how to properly administer naloxone, lead poisoning prevention and more.”
At the Department’s booth in the Science & Industry Building, visitors have access to information about careers in public health and can meet staff from various divisions such as the Center for Community Health. The staff provide education on topics including tick, mosquito, and animal bite prevention.
The booth also offers resources on NY State of Health, which is New York’s official health plan Marketplace. Local enrollment assistors are present throughout the event to inform attendees about available insurance options through the Marketplace such as Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health Plans.
The Office of Drug User Health provides naloxone distribution along with training on reversing opioid overdoses. Attendees can also obtain materials related to harm reduction strategies, drug user health resources, and details about the Buprenorphine Assistance Program (Bupe-AP), which helps uninsured or underinsured individuals access buprenorphine at no cost.
Educational materials from other offices include information on sexual health options like Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP), expedited partner treatment guidance, and syphilis during pregnancy FAQs for patients.
Representatives from the Office of Health Facilities Management are available at the booth to discuss placement opportunities at state-operated skilled nursing facilities for veterans and qualifying dependents. They also share information about rehabilitative services provided by Helen Hayes Hospital as well as employment opportunities across these facilities for healthcare professionals.
Before attending the fair, Commissioner McDonald met with leaders from over a dozen counties at the Department’s Central New York Regional Office. This meeting allowed each county representative to update him on their recent work and raise questions relevant to their communities.
The Great New York State Fair draws nearly one million visitors annually near Syracuse, with daily attendance reaching up to 100,000 people during peak days. To manage this large crowd safely, dedicated healthcare infrastructure is set up each year—including emergency medical services by AMR working alongside an infirmary and triage center operated by Upstate Medical University.
Over 300 food vendors participate at the fair each year. These vendors are permitted and regularly inspected by experienced staff from both the Department of Health Center of Environmental Health and the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
For more details about attending or participating in future fairs, visit here.
