Jennie Sutcliffe Appointed Tompkins County Whole Health Commissioner

Published on June 18, 2025

At last night’s Legislature meeting, legislators appointed and welcomed Jennie Sutcliffe to her new position as the Commissioner of Whole Health, effective July 7, 2025. Ms. Sutcliffe’s appointment has been confirmed by both the Board of Health and the Community Services Board and is currently pending final approval from the New York State Department of Health for her designation as Director of Public Health. 

Ms. Sutcliffe brings over a decade of robust experience in public health leadership, emergency preparedness, health policy, and cross-sector collaboration. Since 2018, she has served as a Senior Advisor in the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the New York City Health Department. In that role, she led the strategic planning and implementation of the department’s Response Ready initiative and served in leadership positions during multiple public health emergencies, including directing quarantine and isolation operations during the Mpox response and leading COVID-19 incident command initiatives such as vaccine operations and personal protective equipment distribution. She also served as a Senior Policy Analyst in the NYC Health Department’s First Deputy Commissioner’s Office, where she influenced Medicaid and healthcare policy and led multimillion-dollar pilot projects focused on social determinants of health. 

Prior, Ms. Sutcliffe held positions in Chicago, Illinois, including Health Justice Policy Specialist at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Policy Analyst under Governor Pat Quinn’s administration, focusing on Affordable Care Act and Medicaid implementation for justice-impacted populations. 

Her impressive public health background is rounded out by international experience as a Fulbright Research Scholar in Italy and an External Relations Fellow in the United Kingdom, where she also earned a Master of Science in Philosophy and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

Tompkins County’s Public Health Department and Mental Health Services Department became Tompkins County Whole Health in 2023, following a strategic planning process of integration that began in 2019. The Whole Health Commissioner is charged with administrative oversight and leadership of both public health and mental health services. The Commissioner is responsible for advancing the Department’s mission to build a healthy, equitable community in Tompkins County by addressing the root causes of health disparities and integrating mental, physical, and environmental health. 

“It is an honor and privilege to be offered the chance to lead such a talented and dedicated department. I grew up in Tompkins County and have spent my career in government and health, so stepping into this role is immensely exciting for me,” Jennie Sutcliffe shared, “Tompkins County is such a vibrant community, I’m looking forward to leading collaboratively with everyone at Whole Health to meet the mental and public health needs of our community.”

“Sutcliffe’s deep experience, policy acumen, and emergency response leadership make her exceptionally qualified to guide Tompkins County Whole Health into its next chapter,” commented Dan Klein, Chair of the Legislature. 

County Administrator Korsah Akumfi is looking forward to working with Ms. Sutcliffe. “After a rigorous search and interview process, we are excited for Ms. Sutcliffe to bring new energy and direction to Whole Health.”

Tompkins County Board of Health President Dr. Christina Moylan stated, "The Board of Health is very pleased to welcome Ms. Sutcliffe to the Tompkins County community. We are looking forward to her leadership of Whole Health, as we continue to advance an equitable, holistic approach to public health and mental health as an integrated organization."

Tompkins County Community Services Board President Jan Lynch stated, "Tompkins County Whole Health was in search of a new Commissioner to serve as both Public Health Director and Mental Health Commissioner—an exceptionally challenging role to fill. Ms. Sutcliffe is an outstanding candidate, offering proven leadership skills, a deep understanding of the intersections between public health and mental health, and a strong commitment to advancing health equity."