Dr. Joanna Locke has been appointed as Yolo County Public Health Officer, effective 24. Photo courtesy of Yolo County

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - The Yolo County Board of Supervisors has appointed Dr. Joanna Locke as the county’s Public Health Officer, effective Monday, Aug. 24. Locke succeeds Dr. Aimee Sisson and will work with County staff, health care providers and community partners to protect and improve public health throughout Yolo County.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Locke to Yolo County,” said Sheila Allen, chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. “She brings deep experience in communicable disease response, mental health and community health, along with a strong record of bringing people and organizations together. That combination will serve our residents well.”

Locke joins Yolo County from the Alameda County Public Health Department, where she served as an acute communicable disease physician and led clinical guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also spent nearly five years as director of health and wellness for Oakland Unified School District, where she oversaw school nursing, school health centers, wellness programs and other services for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

Earlier in her career, Locke held leadership roles at a nonprofit focused on college student suicide prevention and mental health promotion, including as an executive director. Her work included developing national programs for students, families and colleges and serving as a subject matter expert on college mental health.

“Dr. Locke brings the clinical knowledge and broad public health experience needed for this important role,” said Yolo County Administrative Officer Michael Webb. “Her work across county government, schools, health care and nonprofit organizations gives her a strong understanding of how public systems and community partners can work together to serve residents.”

Locke earned a medical degree and a master’s degree in public health from Tulane University. She completed a residency in general preventive medicine and public health at SUNY Stony Brook after a psychiatry internship at George Washington University.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Yolo County as the new health officer,” Locke said. “I look forward to working with government, health care and community partners to support the health of all residents.”

For more information about public health services in Yolo County, visit the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency website at YoloCounty.gov/HHSA.