San Diego County names new public health officer

SAN DIEGO COUNTY APPOINTS NEW PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CRISIS RESPONSE

SAN DIEGO, CA - May 13, 2025 - San Diego County has appointed Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan as its new Public Health Officer, following a nationwide search that concluded with the selection of an internal candidate who has served the community for a decade.

Dr. Thihalolipavan, who most recently worked as the Public Health Medical Officer within the county's Medical Care Services Department, succeeds interim officer Dr. Ankita Kadakia. The appointment comes nearly a year after the July 2024 retirement of his predecessor, Dr. Wilma Wooten.

"We are excited to have Dr. Thihalolipavan accept this leadership position in the Public Health Services department," said Kimberly Giardina, deputy chief administrative officer for the County's Health and Human Services Agency. "He had a distinguished health career prior to joining the county and over the last decade has proven to be a leader in community engagement and collaboration on issues as diverse as the pandemic, opioid crisis and care coordination for vulnerable populations."

Distinguished Academic Background and Training

Born in Nigeria to Sri Lankan parents and raised primarily in Toronto and Buffalo, New York, Dr. Thihalolipavan brings impressive academic credentials to his new role. He holds a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and a Master's in Public Health from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. He completed his residency at the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene in 2011 after an internship at Beth Israel Medical Center in 2009.

Dr. Thihalolipavan is board-certified in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, specializing in population-level approaches to health challenges with a particular focus on health equity.

Extensive Public Health Experience

Before joining San Diego County in 2015 as Deputy Public Health Officer, Dr. Thihalolipavan spent six years with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. There, he worked on tobacco control, diabetes prevention, alcohol and drug use, vital statistics, lead poisoning, and emergency response efforts.

During the Ebola crisis, he was involved in quarantine-related planning and implementation, setting up a monitoring call center for people arriving from affected countries, and serving as the on-call Ebola doctor for clinical inquiries outside business hours.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Dr. Thihalolipavan played a pivotal role in San Diego County's COVID-19 response. He drafted and reviewed health alerts, public communications, and health orders during the pandemic. He also led a team of medical experts to communicate with various communities and stakeholders, supported the reopening team, and routinely interfaced with various sectors.

His hands-on clinical work during the pandemic included providing medical oversight and consultations to nurses at isolation hotels and at the Convention Center's homeless shelter. He also participated in outreach efforts to address vaccine hesitancy, particularly in underserved communities.

Community Engagement and Public Health Achievements

Throughout his career in San Diego, Dr. Thihalolipavan has focused on community engagement and health equity. In 2018, he led the development of the county's first naloxone distribution program to combat opioid overdoses. He continues to support collaborative efforts as an executive committee member on the County's Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Task Force.

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Thihalolipavan has helped respond to numerous public health crises in San Diego, including the Hepatitis A outbreak, meningococcal disease, and Zika virus.

His achievements have earned him recognition, including the San Diego County Top Doctors award in 2022 and the Kresge Foundation Emerging Leaders in Public Health award in 2018.

Selection Process and Future Vision

The county conducted a nationwide search to replace Dr. Wooten but ultimately selected Dr. Thihalolipavan for his unique combination of technical expertise and effective communication skills.

"He's incredibly familiar with the operations of both public health services and medical care services," Giardina explained. "I think his knowledge of both those areas will help him be very effective."

As the top public health official in county government, Dr. Thihalolipavan will work alongside Public Health Services Director Elizabeth Hernandez to manage a department with 730 employees and a $236 million budget.

"I am humbled and honored to have been trusted with this opportunity," Dr. Thihalolipavan said upon his appointment. "I'm truly looking forward to continuing to serve San Diegans from our more populated coastline to our rural areas along with my amazing county colleagues and the broader public health community."

Paul Hegyi, CEO for the San Diego County Medical Society, expressed strong support for the appointment: "Dr. Thihalolipavan is a great choice as the new Public Health Officer for San Diego County. He knows this community well and always seeks out stakeholders to find the best solutions and help build a healthier San Diego region."

With his extensive experience in crisis response, community engagement, and commitment to health equity, Dr. Thihalolipavan is positioned to continue advancing public health initiatives across San Diego County in his new leadership role.

San Diego County names new public health officer