Women’s Health Advocates Celebrate Roe Anniversary and Honor Deputy Secretary for Public Safety and Commissioner, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Service, Denise O’Donnell

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood will hold its annual celebration of the historic Roe v. Wade decision on January 21, 2010 at the Fort Orange Club in downtown Albany. Advocates for women’s health from around the Capital Region, as well as local and state legislators, are expected to turn out to honor the 37th year of the groundbreaking legislation.

This year’s honoree is Deputy Secretary for Public Safety and Commissioner, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Service, Denise O’Donnell.

According to UHPP President/CEO, Patricia McGeown, Denise O’Donnell is “a champion of reproductive rights who has repeatedly used her professional positions to protect the health and safety of those who seek or provide reproductive health care services.” During her tenure as United States Attorney for the Western District of New York she led the successful prosecution of the anti-abortion extremist James Kopp, who murdered Dr. Barnett Slepian, an abortion provider in Amherst, NY. 

In her current position, she has continuously promoted the health and safety of every patient, provider, and staff-person seeking or administering reproductive health care services across the state of New York. 

In 2009, she convened a statewide conference called “Safeguarding Reproductive Clinics & Providers Seminar” to address concerns and initiate cooperation between Planned Parenthood affiliates and local, state and federal law enforcement to prevent harassment and attacks on reproductive health care centers.

She is an ally to family planning service advocates and reproductive health centers across the state.

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Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization serving Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer Counties. It administers four three centers in downtown Albany, Troy and Hudson and provides medical services to over 14,000 men and women each year. The organization is known as a leading expert is sex education and provides hundreds of educational programs each year to thousands of youth and professionals. UHPP is also a strong advocate for legislation supporting reproductive health and choice.