Elizabeth Hernandez, PhD

As Director of Public Health Services (PHS) at the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Elizabeth Hernandez, PhD, oversees public health operations and administrative functions, including tuberculosis control and refugee health; preparedness and response; maternal, child and family health services; California Children’s Services; HIV/AIDS, STDs and hepatitis; as well as epidemiology and immunization services.  She provides leadership, direction, and support to PHS branches in the areas of budget development, fiscal processes, and accountability; contracting; quality management/quality improvement; and human resources.

The County’s PHS department consists of over 775 employees and a budget of $230 million, serving a county of 3.3 million residents.

Dr. Hernandez serves on the executive committee for the County Health Executives Association of California, is a board member for the Public Health Institute, is co-chair of the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, represents the county on the California Department of Public Health Office of Binational Border Health Advisory Group, and serves on the San Diego State University School of Public Health Advisory Board.

Prior to joining the county, Dr. Hernandez worked in the capacity of vice president with the Neighborhood House Association (NHA), one of San Diego’s largest nonprofit organizations. She has also consulted to organizations on program design and evaluation, curriculum and training design, and organizational assessment. Some of the clients she has partnered with include the University of El Paso, Texas, Toyota Financial Services, school districts, health care consortiums, and utility and energy companies. She also worked in the nonprofit sector as a psychological assistant, providing child, family, and one on one therapy. 

Dr. Hernandez holds a BA in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and a master’s and doctorate in Dual Clinical/Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University in San Diego. She lives in Chula Vista with her husband and three daughters.