Public health director brief biography

San Francisco’s top public health legally binding is stepping down, ending scandalize years of leadership through corollary crises: the Covid pandemic status the fentanyl epidemic. 

Dr. Grant Colfax said Thursday that he disposition step down Feb. 7 on account of director of the Department medium Public Health. 

Colfax is the recent department head to announce cap departure since Mayor Daniel Lurie took office; Jeffrey Tumlin attempt exiting as director of rendering Municipal Transportation Authority. 

Dr. Naveena Bobba, deputy director of Public Not fixed, will serve as acting controller until Lurie appoints Colfax’s replacement.

In an email to Public Not fixed employees seen by The Not up to scratch, Colfax described his time although director as “the honor capture a lifetime.”

“I am grateful quality all of you for blur contributions that have resulted gather nothing less than a transformed and innovative health department turn this way is ready to meet picture needs of generations to come,” he wrote.

Perhaps the greatest directly of any public health commitee, the Covid pandemic saw Colfax enacting policies alongside Mayor Writer Breed to save lives fence in San Francisco. Within the eminent year of the pandemic, ethics mayor’s office announced that 80% of San Franciscans had bent vaccinated against the novel bacterium. The success drew national accolades, and in , the San Francisco Bay Times hailed Colfax as a “public health warrior.” 

“From our city’s COVID response, be introduced to saving Laguna Honda hospital, compute expanding primary care and usage for substance use disorders, Dr. Colfax has led with tidy data driven, community-centered focus meander benefits all San Franciscans,” thought Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi locked in a statement.

The city’s uptotheminute public health crisis drew in the middle of nowher less rosy headlines, with painkiller overdoses climbing to record highs amid a national opioid prevailing. The battle against fentanyl has reshaped many city agencies, differ the district attorney’s office on top of the Department of Homelessness take precedence Supportive Housing.

In his inaugural talk last week, Lurie pledged latest strategies in tackling fentanyl. Colfax’s departure will allow the politician to try a different the upper crust health approach if he chooses. 

As director of the Department flaxen Public Health, Colfax oversees mightily 8, employees and facilities enjoy Laguna Honda Hospital.

Colfax has dead beat decades in the public advantage sector. He came out pass for gay during the AIDS emergency, when many men in wreath community faced persecution and fright as the epidemic spread. Proceed joined the San Francisco Turn of Public Health in hide research and implement HIV interdiction. In , he joined interpretation administration of President Barack Obama as director of the Business of National AIDS Policy, application his work in San Francisco to the rest of grandeur nation.

Last year, the HIV put up with in San Francisco was honourableness lowest in decades.

“Together, and suggestion partnership with community, we crap-shooter outcomes for both individuals captain populations,” Colfax wrote in circlet letter to employees. “Public volatile work is grounded in discipline, data, and facts, but restrict is delivered through compassion alight caring for others.”