A family medicine specialist who earned his medical degree from UCLA and practiced extensively in urban and rural primary care and urgent care clinics in Northern and Southern California was sworn in today as Los Angeles County’s health officer.
Dr. Muntu Davis, who earned a master of public health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health, is a “noted national advocate on elevating and implementing health equity framework within government agencies,” according to the county’s Department of Public Health.
Davis had served since 2009 as Alameda County’s health officer and as ACPHD’s public health director for the past six years. Before that, he worked in the Immunization Branch of the California Department of Health Services, where his duties included pandemic planning.
Davis will serve as Los Angeles County’s medical expert regarding public health matters and will provide guidance and direction to leadership across the Department of Public Health. He will also consult on, interpret and enforce county and state laws and regulations to protect and promote the health and wellness of the county’s more than 10 million residents and support county area health officers in the discharge of their duties.
“As we strive to develop and ensure our capacity to promote health equity and justice in Los Angeles County, I feel very fortunate to have Dr. Davis’ leadership to help advance our collective work with our colleagues at the Department of Health Services and the Department of Mental Health to implement our new health priorities,” said DPH Director Barbara Ferrer. “He is a unique addition and support for our collaborations with county residents and community organizations.”
Davis said he was eager to work on “efforts to close the gaps, while improving health and well-being for all across Los Angeles County. I look forward to working in partnership with the community, business, and government to achieve long-standing improvements.”
