By Business Wire, January 8, 2021
California Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday made two appointments to the California Children and Families Commission, also known as the First 5 California Commission. To serve in the role of First 5 California Commission Chair, Governor Newsom appointed Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California Surgeon General. Additionally, Governor Newsom appointed Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, Monterey County Health Department, as a Commission member.
Dr. Burke Harris is California’s first-ever Surgeon General, and she is a nationally recognized expert in the field of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress. As Surgeon General, Dr. Burke Harris is an advisor to the governor and serves as the leading spokesperson on matters of public health and leading on solutions that tackle Californians most pressing health dilemmas. As the founder of the Center for Youth Wellness, Dr. Burke Harris is considered a national leader in advancing pediatric medicine to raise awareness and transforming societal responses to ACEs and toxic stress in young children. Dr. Burke Harris’ TED Talks (TEDMED) presentation, “How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime” has amassed more than 8 million views.
“Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is an outstanding choice to lead the Commission,” said George Halvorson, immediate past Chair of the First 5 California Commission. “Her professional background and experience will serve the Commission well in advancing its mission and goals of serving California’s youngest children and their families. Her leadership and passion will propel the Commission in its pursuit of health and equity for Californians and she will continue to make helping young children in their earliest months and years a high priority for California and the Commission.”
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