MARIN COUNTY (BCN) — A physician with a long career in public health has been appointed
the new director of Marin County Health and Human Services.
Dr. Grant Colfax, a former advisor to the Obama Administration on
HIV/AIDS, will replace Dr. Larry Meredith who recently retired after 13 years
as director. Colfax’s salary will be $215,342.
Colfax, an 11-year Marin County resident, is expected to be
appointed April 7 by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. His first day on
the job will be May 4 if appointed.
Colfax worked 18 years in public health service at the federal and
state level. He was Director of National AIDS policy for President Barack
Obama from 2012-2014. He was responsible for setting priorities for $23
million in federal funding and directing HIV/AIDS strategy for several
federal departments.
Colfax also was the director of HIV Prevention and Research for
the City and County of San Francisco between 2007 and 2012.
A former resident of Boonville in Mendocino County, Colfax earned
a bachelor’s degree and M.D. from Harvard University. He was an internal
medicine resident and later a fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at the
University of California, San Francisco in the late 1990s before he joined
the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
“Being part of the Obama Administration was a privilege, but I
have sorely missed the proximity, community partnerships and tangible impact
of local public service,” Colfax said.
“Securing the well being of all communities involves meeting many
challenges, including persistent health disparities, an aging population,
suboptimal vaccination rates, the need for affordable housing, gaps in
education and a lack of accessible health food options for many residents
despite a thriving agricultural sector,” Colfax said.
A nationwide search for a new HHS Director drew 69 applications
and several were remarkable contenders, Marin County Administrator Matthew
Hymel said.
“We were particularly impressed with Grant’s combination of
experiences in health policy, leadership and community engagement,” Hymel
said.