Dr. Sara Cody has announced her retirement from her position as Santa Clara County’s health officer.
She served the County for more than 25 years (12 of those in this current role, and also as director of the County’s health department since 2015).
Cody rose to national prominence with her response to the novel coronavirus—she issued the first stay-at-home order in the country.
“Serving the community in this role has been an extraordinary privilege, and I am grateful for the support and guidance I’ve received along the way, from community members, staff and county leaders,” Cody said in a release. “Now is the right time to pass the baton.”
She worked with neighboring jurisdictions to present a unified front against Covid, ensuring consistent health policies to prevent the spread of infection, according to county staff.
Her early actions and initiatives, along with her Bay Area peers, maintained one of the lowest death rates during the pandemic. Under Cody’s leadership, Santa Clara County also became the second most vaccinated large county in the country.
“Dr. Cody is an exceptional public servant who has served our county with distinction and a deep commitment to our community,” said County Executive James R. Williams. “Her proactive leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic saved many lives. Her focus on health equity and outcomes has made our Public Health Department more responsive to community needs.
‘I have been inspired by her bold leadership’
—Camille Llanes-Fontanilla, community leader
“As a nationally recognized expert, she leaves a legacy of excellence in public service and has set a new standard for what public health leadership looks like in our country. I want to thank Dr. Cody for all that she has done to improve the health and well-being of communities across Santa Clara County.”
Cody joined the Santa Clara County Public Health Department in July 1998 as the Communicable Disease Controller and Deputy Health Officer, where she oversaw investigation of reportable diseases and outbreaks, planned for public health emergencies and responded to SARS, H1N1 influenza, and emerging infectious diseases, county officials said. She was promoted to County Health Officer in 2013 and added the role of Director of the Public Health Department in 2015.
In the decade since, she reorganized the department to prioritize racial and health equity, strengthen capacity to respond to infectious diseases and integrate physician leaders into the department. She created a science branch to ensure that public health policies and programs were evidence-based and thoroughly evaluated, in addition to making Santa Clara County health data available to the public through dashboards and other tools.
“In working with Dr. Sara Cody over the years, I have been inspired by her bold leadership, willingness to make difficult decisions, and an unwavering commitment to serving the county’s most vulnerable populations,” said Camille Llanes-Fontanilla, a community leader. “Her approach has saved countless lives and has strengthened a community approach to public health.”
Raised in Santa Clara County, Cody went to Stanford for an undergraduate degree, then to Yale School of Medicine, county officials said. She completed a medical internship and residency in internal medicine at Stanford Hospital. She also served as a CDC disease detective—an officer in the world-renowned Epidemic Intelligence Service—before joining the county’s public health department.
Cody has received numerous awards for her contributions during the pandemic, including certificates of recognition from both the U.S. Congress and the California state legislature. Additionally, she was honored with the Milton and Ruth Romer Prize in 2020 for Creative Local Public Health Work by the American Public Health Association and was recognized among the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2020 Women of Influence.
Santa Clara County Deputy Health Officer, Dr. Sarah Rudman, will serve as Acting Health Officer and Director as of April 11, the county said.
