Dr. Daniel Gilmore said the highlight of his new position is “getting to work with people who really have a passion for the work.”

Gilmore is Oneida County’s new public health director. He took over the role in December as COVID-19 numbers rose in the county.

“The time I started was just before the vaccines came, which was a logical transition that’s moving more into vaccination-mode,” Gilmore said.

It gave him a chance to start during this mew chapter of the pandemic.

“Our duties now include managing the vaccine distribution,” he said, although the supply they’ve been given is often short.

It may be surprising to learn he has a background in forestry and natural resources. Most recently, Gilmore was the county’s environmental health director.

“I did collaborative work at the University of Minnesota with entomologists which led into diseases that impact humans so I saw a similarity between my work back then and environmental health,” Gilmore said.

Gilmore said annual drills on how to handle outbreaks and vaccination clinics helped prepare the department for this pandemic, but the community’s response wasn’t guaranteed.

“Really what impresses me is the willingness of the community to do whatever they have to to be safe from COVID,” he said.

Gilmore has been working with the county for more than 13 years.