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Westchester County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler has been named the 2024 recipient of New York Medical College's William Cullen Bryant Award, county officials announced on Thursday, Oct. 3.
The award, named after the college's founder, recognizes those who show seminal leadership in health care, science, education, business, or the arts and was also bestowed to Amler's husband, Robert Amler, the college's Vice President of Government Affairs.
The awards were presented at the New York Medical College Founder’s Dinner at New Rochelle's Surf Club on the Sound on Thursday.
Amler, who has served as health commissioner since 2011, said she is "humbled" to receive the award and that it is "especially sweet to share the spotlight alongside my husband.”
She also specified her favorite accomplishment: "When I look back, one of the things I am proudest of is the Narcan program we started back in 2015. I think we have trained more than 12,000 people to administer Narcan to prevent an opioid overdose."
"I have no idea how many lives we’ve saved, but I do know it is more lives than I could ever have saved as a private practitioner in my pediatric office," Amler added.
In addition to her role as health commissioner, Amler is a physician, registered nurse, and certified emergency manager.
She helped lead the county's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and played a "significant role" in the Health Department's campaign to reduce the death toll, officials said.
"We are thrilled, but not surprised, that Dr. Amler was recognized with this prestigious award," said Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who added, "She exudes a professionalism and compassion that is undeniable. Dr. Amler was a steady force throughout the pandemic. We could turn to her and have confidence in her advice. It got us through this.”
County Board of Health President Robert Baker had more words of praise for Amler: "I have had a front row seat watching her masterful management of the Health Department through many public health emergencies and the technological modernization of the Department as it meets its routine needs to promote public health in Westchester."
"Dr. Amler’s quick response to the COVID pandemic undoubtedly saved tens of thousands of lives in Westchester County as she did her best to instantly quarantine the nursing facilities and other facilities with at risk ill and elderly. I think it is no exaggeration that no other physician has saved more lives in Westchester during their career than Sherlita Amler M.D.," Baker continued.
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