Pasadena Public Health Director Taking One-Year Leave For Prestigious Fellows Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2022

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

Lisa Derderian, City of Pasadena Public Information Officer, lderderian@cityofpasadena.net

PASADENA, Calif.—Public Health Director and Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh has been one of six people selected for the 2022-23 class of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy fellows at the National Academy of Medicine. This fellowship is the nation’s most prestigious learning experience at the nexus of health, science and policy in Washington, D.C. Since 1973, this nonpartisan fellowship has offered exclusive, hands-on policy experience with the most influential congressional and executive offices. Over the years, more than 300 fellows from across the nation have worked hand in hand with the best and brightest in federal health policy to gain an insider’s perspective of the political process, develop unmatched leadership skills, and build a professional network that lasts a lifetime. Dr. Goh will be taking a personal leave of absence from the City beginning August 22, 2022 until the completion of the one-year fellowship.

In 2019, Dr. Goh was named director of Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD). She is a board-certified pediatrician and has been serving as the City’s health officer since 2015. Prior to her appointment as PPHD’s director of public health, Dr. Goh served as medical director for programs and research for the department, securing grant funding and managing programs related to diabetes care management and childhood obesity prevention, among others. Her professional experience includes clinical pediatric practice; management of a California endowment task force to improve healthcare access and quality in Los Angeles County; design and implementation of a case management program for seniors with chronic conditions; and research to improve nutrition and physical activity for youth as well as many other professional accomplishments. 

Dr. Goh earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine, and a master’s degree in health services from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She completed pediatric residency programs at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center.

City Manager Cynthia Kurtz will announce an interim director in the near future and the City will begin recruiting for a limited term health officer.

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