I will create a new position, a Public Health Emergency Manager, who will provide leadership and expertise to our team to ensure we are able to beat COVID-19, the opioid epidemic, and other health emergencies in the future. These crises do not discriminate based on age, gender, skin color, or municipal border lines. We must take an approach to planning and decision-making that is based on science, guided by trusted public health experts, and collaborate with surrounding communities, including the UVMMC and the State, to ensure a smart, coordinated, and holistic approach for the health and safety of our residents now and in years to come.