County of Santa Clara Health Officer and national pioneer in COVID-19 response Dr. Sara Cody announces her retirement

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – Dr. Sara Cody, the County of Santa Clara’s Health Officer and Director of Public Health whose rapid and trailblazing initiatives during the COVID-19 epidemic ultimately saved countless lives, has announced her retirement from the County after more than a quarter century of service.

Dr. Cody will depart from her role as Health Officer and Director of the Public Health Department – positions she has held since 2013 and 2015 respectively – effective in April.

“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,” said Dr. Sara Cody. “Now is the right time to pass the baton to the next set of public health leaders. I know the Department and the County will continue to make thoughtful public health decisions and support the critical work that so many across the county rely on every day.”

Dr. Cody will be most remembered in the community as the public health officer who led the County and the broader Bay Area in saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Health Officer, she was responsible for issuing the first Stay-at-Home order in the nation after some of the first COVID-19 deaths in the nation occurred in Santa Clara County.  She worked collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions to present a unified front against COVID, ensuring consistent health policies to prevent the spread of infection.

Her early actions and initiatives, along with her Bay Area peers, maintained one of the lowest death rates during the pandemic. When the COVID-19 crisis reached 1 million deaths nationally, the COVID-19 death rate in the Bay Area ranked lower than all but two U.S. states. Under Dr. 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. 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.”

“Santa Clara County is indebted to Dr. Cody for her steadfast leadership guiding our Public Health Department for more than a decade,” said Board of Supervisors President Otto Lee and Chair of the Board’s Health and Hospital Committee. “She fearlessly led us through the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic with facts, data, and transparency, earning the trust of community and saving thousands of lives. She has always sought to serve communities most impacted by health disparities in our County, taking a data-driven, community-centered approach that has made the difference in the lives of so many our residents. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I want to thank Dr. Cody for her leadership, impact, and service to our County.”

Dr. 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. 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 robust 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. Under her leadership, the Department has significantly grown to better serve the needs of the community, including through the re-integration of the Public Health and Environmental Health departments.

“Dr. Cody’s extraordinary work dealing with the COVID pandemic is well known, but her influence in public health extends far beyond that. Whether it was creating the African-American Roots Clinic, overseeing health assessments for minority populations, developing strategies to reduce childhood obesity and diabetes, fighting big tobacco, or expanding programs to reduce the number of HIV transmissions, Dr. Cody always showed compassion and determination in getting results. The County was fortunate to have her,” said former Supervisor Ken Yeager.

“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.”

“Dr. Sara Cody is a hero,” said Dana Bunnett, Co-Executive Director of Kids in Common. "Her swift and courageous leadership early in the pandemic saved lives in Santa Clara County. Under her leadership, the Public Health Department is one that partners with the community in a manner that builds trust and connection.  Because of this community connection, Santa Clara County was well-positioned to support our most vulnerable community members during COVID.”

Raised in Santa Clara County, Dr. Cody went to Stanford for an undergraduate degree, then to Yale School of Medicine. 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.

Dr. Cody has received numerous awards for her contributions during the COVID pandemic, including Certificates of Recognition from both the United States 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.

Dr. Cody’s last day with the County is April 11, 2025. Deputy Health Officer, Dr. Sarah Rudman, will serve as Acting Health Officer and Director.