Colleen Chawla was named chief of San Mateo County Health in February 2025. She comes to the Peninsula from Alameda County Health, where she served as agency director from 2017-2025. Previously, she held several roles during her 13 years at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, including deputy director of health.

Chawla traces her interest in health policy and administration to volunteer work more than three decades ago for an AIDS information hotline. “That volunteer position launched a career in health policy and public health, sustained over the years by the things that matter deeply to me – the right to health, equity and justice, and stewardship of the public’s trust,” Chawla said.  

She holds a master’s degree in public administration and health services administration from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern California.  

Chawla loves cooking and traveling and feeling healthy and strong after her morning gym routine (even if the exercise itself is not always the thing she loves). She recently became scuba certified and wants to expand her underwater travel experiences.