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Category Archives: Clayton Chau

Dr. Clayton Chau selected as the new O.C. Health Officer

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Santa Ana, Calif. (August 26, 2020) – In unanimous vote by the Orange County Board of Supervisors yesterday, Clayton Chau, M.D., Ph.D., was selected as County Health Officer.

Dr. Chau will serve as the Director of the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) as well as County Health Officer. He was hired on as the HCA’s Director on May 4, 2020 and subsequently assumed the role as Acting County Health Officer on June 9, 2020.

Dr. Chau worked for the HCA’s Behavioral Health Services team from 1999-2012 and was most recently Chief Clinical and Strategy Officer for Mind OC, the not-for-profit created to support the advancement of Be Well OC.

In addition to his time at Mind OC, Dr. Chau was previous employed by Providence Health System, the third largest health system in the country, as the Regional Executive Medical Director of the Institute of Mental Health and Wellness, Southern California Region. Dr. Chau was also appointed by the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services serving on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee.

His past positions include Senior Medical Director for Health Services at L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest nonprofit health plan in the nation, responsible for behavioral health, care management, utilization management, and disease management. In that capacity, Dr. Chau was actively involving in the development of the Los Angeles County Whole Person Care Program. He was also the Co-Principal Investigator for a multi-year Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Innovation grant in Transforming Clinical Practice.

Dr. Chau received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Chelsea University in 2004, and his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1994. He completed his psychiatry residency at the University of California, Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley followed by a fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health in psychoneuroimmunology focusing on substance use disorder and HIV. Additionally, he has served as an Associate Clinical Professor and Lecturer at a variety of renowned academic institutions including the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Chau has conducted international trainings in the areas of health care integration, health care system reform, cultural competency and mental health policy.

The County of Orange pushes back at the OC Education Trustees who want to reopen schools without face masks

Posted on by Posted in Clayton Chau, Don Wagner, Education, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana, Calif. (July 15, 2020) – Orange County Supervisor, Don Wagner, and Health Director, Dr. Clayton Chau, applaud the efforts of the Orange County Department of Education to bring children back to school with safety measures in place. It is critical that young people not fall further behind in their education.

At all grades, we have lost valuable and irreplaceable teaching days. We have robbed social and emotional learning and threatened our children’s mental health. At some point, these losses cannot be made up, jeopardizing the next generation in the name of saving them.

The balancing effort the Orange County Department of Education must engage in to reopen schools in a social setting is a tough one, a point made by Supervisor Wagner at the presentation to the Orange County Board of Education earlier this month. The Orange County Department of Education’s effort is made more difficult by the fact that much remains unknown about the virus, the susceptibility of children to it, and the likelihood of spreading it to family members, teachers, school staff, or other at-risk members of the community. And ultimately, it is for parents to decide whether any potential risks are sufficiently lessened by the Orange County Department of Education’s reopening guidelines.

When the Board of Supervisors unanimously put out business reopening guidelines, Supervisors Wagner and Steel wrote them to incorporate the CDC’s then-current recommendations. The Supervisors called for physical distancing and urged the use of facial coverings where distancing was unavailable.

However it is important to note that Supervisor Wagner and Dr. Chau did not write, edit, or review the “white paper” the Orange County Board of Education brought forward. Both Supervisor Wagner and Dr. Chau encouraged the Orange County Board of Education to remain guided in their plan by the medical professionals. Supervisor Wagner specifically seconded the call of panel member, Joel Kotkin, to hear both sides of the mask issue.

Supervisor Wagner and Dr. Chau believe the Orange County Board of Education should follow the same procedures in determining the best way to safely reopen schools. However, it is important to reopen safely when the epidemiological data makes sense.

More O.C. businesses to open and residents no longer required to wear face masks

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Business, Clayton Chau, Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

County of Orange Press Conference Comments from Vice Chairman Andrew Do

It’s hard to believe that it was 106 days ago that the Chairwoman and I first declared a Local Emergency because of COVID-19. We acted swiftly and our residents took to heart our recommendations to social distance and follow good sanitary practices. I believe that Orange County did not see the surge of cases experienced in other areas because of our county measures, and the care taken by our residents and essential workers.

We have all seen the negative health, social, and economic impacts on our county from COVID-19. Please know that the Board of Supervisors, as your elected officials, has heard you, and we have advocated tirelessly to the state to reopen the local economy in a safe way.

I am happy to announce that our Health Care Agency Director and Interim County Health Officer, Dr. Clayton Chau, who has led this county through the Phase 2 of reopening, will announce today the reopening of many more businesses in our county, starting tomorrow. These include fitness facilities, museums, galleries, zoos, aquariums, bars, wineries, and family entertainment centers.

During today’s press conference, Dr. Chau, walked through an amended health order for Orange County residents and the criteria the State of California is monitoring every day.

Chau said:

“I want to be clear: This does not diminish the importance of face coverings,” he said. “I stand with the public health experts and believe wearing cloth face coverings helps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and save lives. By being consistent with the state, this will give our business community and individuals the ability to make the most appropriate decision for them and their situation.”

Let me emphasize that, every day, the State is looking at this county’s response to COVID-19. That means as we continue to reopen our local economy, get people back to work, and allow our residents to enjoy Orange County, we must remain vigilant. Should the spread of the virus accelerate here, and Orange County fails to meet the state’s reopening criteria, the local economy may be put in jeopardy once again. Our actions are based on data. The chart below lays out the criteria the State will evaluate as we continue to reopen our economy.


COVID-19 is still a threat here in Orange County, there’s no doubt about it. As we continue to resume normal activities, we should all do our part to continue to protect each other by keeping appropriate physical distancing, washing our hands, and wearing face coverings in public.

Orange County Vice Chairman Andrew Do represents the First District communities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, and Midway City. In his second term, Vice Chairman Do has reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness.

The O.C. Health Care Agency has hired a new Director

Posted on by Posted in Clayton Chau, Health and Medical, Mental Health, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 27, 2020) – Clayton Chau, M.D., Ph.D., as the new Director of the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), effective May 4, 2020.

Dr. Chau worked for HCA’s Behavioral Health Services team from 1999-2012 and was most recently Chief Clinical and Strategy Officer for Mind OC, the not-for-profit created to support the advancement of Be Well OC.

“The County of Orange and I are thrilled that Dr. Chau will be joining the HCA team,” said Frank Kim, CEO. “Dr. Chau brings a wealth of experience to HCA, particularly within the realm of behavioral health. I look forward to working with him on tackling our greatest healthcare issues.”

In addition to his time at Mind OC, Dr. Chau was previous employed by Providence Health System, the third largest health system in the country, as the Regional Executive Medical Director of the Institute of Mental Health and Wellness, Southern California Region. Dr. Chau was also appointed by the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services serving on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee.

His past positions include Senior Medical Director for Health Services at L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest nonprofit health plan in the nation, responsible for behavioral health, care management, utilization management, and disease management. In that capacity, Dr. Chau was actively involving in the development of the Los Angeles County Whole Person Care Program. He was also the Co-Principal Investigator for a multi-year Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Innovation grant in Transforming Clinical Practice.

Dr. Chau received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Chelsea University in 2004, and his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1994. He completed his psychiatry residency at the University of California, Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley followed by a fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health in psychoneuroimmunology focusing on substance use disorder and HIV. Additionally, he has served as an Associate Clinical Professor and Lecturer at a variety of renowned academic institutions including the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Chau has conducted international trainings in the areas of health care integration, health care system reform, cultural competency and mental health policy.