Diana S. Dooley, Secretary California Health and Human Services Agency
Secretary Diana Dooley was appointed to lead the California Health and Human Services Agency in December 2010 by Governor Jerry Brown.
Prior to leading the Agency, Ms. Dooley was President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Children's Hospital Association, which is an advocate for the eight regional non-profit children's hospitals in California. These hospitals provide nearly 40 percent of all inpatient hospital care for children in the state.
Dooley began her professional career as an analyst at the State Personnel Board. In 1975, she was appointed to the staff of Governor Jerry Brown for whom she served as a lobbyist, legislative director and special assistant until the end of his term in 1983. Before becoming an attorney in 1995, she owned a successful public relations and advertising agency. Dooley left her private law practice in December, 2000 to accept an appointment as General Counsel and Vice President at Children's Hospital Central California near Fresno where she established an in-house legal services program and directed the Hospital's advocacy, communications and governmental relations programs.
Dooley is active in civic and community affairs, having most recently served on the Board of Directors of Blood Source of Northern California and The Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno. She is also a past president of Planned Parenthood, the Visalia Chamber of Commerce and the Central California Futures Institute.
Dooley is a native of Hanford, California and graduated from Hanford High School in 1969. She received her bachelor's degree from California State University, Fresno in 1972 and her law degree from San Joaquin College of Law in 1995. She is married to Dan Dooley and has two adult daughters.
In addition to leading the 13 departments within the Agency, Secretary Dooley will be a voting, ex officio member of the newly created California Health Benefit Exchange Board and will also serve in the following capacities:
- First 5 (California Children and Families) Commission – Health and Safety Code section 130110 (c): the Secretary serves as an ex officio nonvoting member.
- Cal eConnect (Health Information Exchange) Board – Health and Safety Code section 130251: the Secretary or designee serves as a member.
- Olmstead Advisory Committee – Executive Order S-10-08, authorizes the Secretary to form an advisory group to provide input on its efforts to evaluate, revise, implement and monitor the Olmstead Plan.
- Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee – Health and Safety Code section 1568.17(a)(11): the Secretary or designee serves as a member.
- Child Welfare Council – Welfare and Institutions Code section 16541(a): the Secretary serves as co-chair, along with the Chief Justice/designee of the California Supreme Court.
- Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board – Insurance Code section 12700: the Secretary or designee serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
- State Council on Developmental Disabilities – Welfare and Institutions Code section 4521(b)(2)(A): the Secretary or designee serves as a member.
- Technical Services Board – Government Code section 11535 (a): the Secretary serves as a member.
- County Medical Services Program Governing Board – Welfare and Institutions Code section 16809.4: the Secretary or designee serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
- State Mental Health Planning Council – Welfare and Institutions Code section 5771 (b) allows for appointments at the state level with three-year staggered terms. The Secretary or designee is appointed by the director of the California Department of Mental Health.
- California Workforce Investment Board – Unemployment Insurance Code section 14012 (g): the Secretary serves as a representative with responsibility for the programs, services, or activities that are mandatory participants in the one-stop system.
- San Joaquin Valley Partnership – Executive Order S-22-06: the Secretary serves as a state member.
- Strategic Growth Council – Public Resources Code section 75121(a): the Secretary serves as a member.
Ed Hernandez, California State Senator
Dr. Ed Hernandez had only one goal as a young man – to serve the health care needs of the community he came from. As an optometrist and local businessman, he never dreamed he would one day work in the California State Legislature. As a health care provider in predominantly low-income communities though, the need to improve access to health care is what drove him to run for office. Dr. Ed was first elected to the Assembly in November of 2006, and re-elected in November of 2008. He won his seat in the California State Senate in November of 2010.
Senator Hernandez serves as Chair for the Senate Committee on Health. He is also a member of the Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee, as well as the Government and Finance Committee and the Committee for Governmental Organization.
Senator Hernandez is the Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Caucus, made up of 13 Senators and Assemblymembers representing the greater San Gabriel Valley. This position has allowed him to work in cooperation with fellow legislators on issues critical to the San Gabriel Valley, including water and transportation.
Senator Hernandez grew up in La Puente, attended local schools and graduated from Bassett High School. He worked his way through school, attending both Rio Hondo and Mt. San Antonio Community Colleges before going on to get his B.S. degree in Biology from Cal State Fullerton. He received a scholarship to study Optometry at Indiana University, which is also where he met his wife Diane. After returning home, Dr. Ed and his wife setup their first practice in his hometown of La Puente.
Senator Hernandez represents the 24th Senate District, which includes parts of the City of Los Angeles including El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, City Terrace, Montecito Heights, as well as East Los Angeles and the Cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, and West Covina. The district also includes the communities of Avocado Heights, Citrus, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, South San Gabriel, Valinda and Vincent.