Since 1892, the Pasadena Public Health Department has been responsible for helping protect, maintain and improve the health of the Pasadena community. The City of Pasadena is one of only three cities in the state of California that maintains its own independent local health jurisdiction with responsibility for a wide variety of services that support the three core public health functions of assessment, policy development and assurance.
Mission Statement
To protect and advance equitable and optimal health outcomes for all who live, work, learn and play in Pasadena.
Vision Statement
The Pasadena Public Health Department will lead the city to be the model of health excellence and community wellness.
Core Values
The Pasadena Public Health Department is committed to building trusting relationships with the community we serve; providing high-quality services; making health services accessible; instilling the value of public health; and creating opportunities that foster health professional excellence.
Core Purpose
Our Mission
To protect and advance equitable and optimal health outcomes for all who live, work, learn and play in Pasadena.
Our Vision
Everyone thriving in communities designed for health and well-being.
North Stars
Our guiding principles are presented as North Stars because they maintain our focus on the path forward and reflect our shared approach to achieving our mission, vision, and strategic plan.
Department Leadership
Manuel Carmona, MPH, MPA
Director of Public Health
As the City’s Director of Public Health, Manuel Carmona, MPH, MPA, is responsible for the overall planning, administration, and operation of the Pasadena Public Health Department. Prior to appointment as Director of Public Health, Manuel served as Deputy Director and management analyst at the Pasadena Public Health Department. His professional experience includes developing and maintaining critical community programs in the areas of violence prevention; health equity; and maternal, adolescent and child health.
Prior to joining the Pasadena Public Health Department in 2014, Manuel worked in a range of municipal operations for other California cities, including human resources, economic development, code enforcement, and parks and recreation. Manuel obtained a Master of Public Health from the University of Washington in 2023 and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Science in community and regional development from the University of California, Davis.
Organizational Structure
Strategic Plan
Public Health Accreditation
Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) has successfully completed the evaluation process to maintain national accreditation status through 2028 by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), a non-profit that focuses on transforming public health. PPHD demonstrated their ability to meet PHAB’s quality standards, while highlighting work that advances public health in the Pasadena community.
To attain reaccreditation, PPHD completed an intensive peer-reviewed assessment process to demonstrate the department satisfies national quality standards, such as equitably addressing and investigating population health problems and hazards, meeting community health needs, and communicating effectively to inform and educate the community on health factors. PPHD first received accreditation in 2016.
Read the press release regarding PPHD maintaining accreditation.