ROME – Gale Barone, RN., B.S., was recently named chairperson of the Coalition for the Health of Oneida County. Barone is the Director of Education for Rome Memorial Hospital.

The Coalition for the Health of Oneida County is funded through the Oneida County Health Department and the New York State Health Department’s Healthy Heart program. The initiative strives to promote and improve people’s cardiac health.

According to Timothy Bobo, executive director of the Central New York Health Systems Agency (CNYHSA), Inc., Barone was selected because of her work with the coalition and her role in last year’s "Just Move It" campaign. Bobo also cited her ability to follow through on projects and her experience.

"The coalition is part of a statewide program that has been fostered and encouraged through grants from the state Department of Public Health to counties and other entities for the past several years," said Bobo. CNYHSA assisted Oneida County in developing a grant application to apply for funding last year.

In the coalition’s first six months, it performed an inventory of existing community activities and resources that promoted physical activity and good nutrition. The "centerpiece" last year, said Bobo, was the coalition’s "Just Move It" campaign. It challenged teams of employees from various work sites throughout the county to increase their physical activity during a three-week period.

Under Barone’s leadership, a similar, more extensive coalition program is currently underway. The "3/300 Team Challenge" asks teams of employees to get 300 points by logging hours of exercise throughout the three weeks. Additional points may be earned by eating five or more fruits or vegetables a day, drinking low fat milk or making healthier lunch selections.

"Gale emerged with recognized talents and enthusiasm," Bobo pointed out, "When it came to who could see the program through as it begins to mature, she was the logical choice."

Barone currently oversees patient, staff and community education programs at Rome Memorial Hospital. She is a graduate of SUNY College of Technology, Utica, and has been a member the hospital’s nursing staff since 1974. Nineteen of those years have been spent in the Education Department.

In addition, Barone has taught numerous classes for the American Heart Association and is an active clinical volunteer. The Rome Division of the American Heart Association named Barone Volunteer of the Year from 1995-96.

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