David Robinson is reporting for the Poughkeepsie Journal New York state Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett submitted her resignation last week. Bassett will return to her role in academia at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health effective January 1. She served just over one year as the state's top health official. "This was a very difficult decision," Bassett said in a statement, noting she has "tremendous admiration for the work our staff has done during a very difficult year responding to COVID, mpox [monkeypox], polio and the day-to-day challenges of protecting New Yorkers’ health." Bassett said she was leaving now so the next commissioner can have the chance to serve a full four-year term under Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was elected in November to a full term since she replaced Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August 2021. Basset replaced Dr. Howard Zucker, who resigned several months after Cuomo. "I am deeply grateful to Dr. Bassett for her service to New Yorkers and for her leadership during one of the most challenging public health eras of our lifetimes," Hochul said in a statement. The governor's office did not immediately answer questions about its plans for appointing the next health commissioner. Read more in the Poughkeepsie Journal.