Anonymous
Source: Central Coast Medical Association
The Central Coast Medical Association awarded Charity Dean, MD, MPH, as the 2018 Physician of the Year for Santa Barbara County. The honor is for a physician who has worked to improve the quality of health care, contributed to the education of other physicians, and engaged in community service and other activities outside of medicine.
Dr. Kurt Ransohoff presented the award and shared stories of Dr. Dean, who is known by her colleagues for her compassion, work ethic, enthusiasm, and dedication to public service. Dr. Ransohoff stated, “Dr. Charity Dean was accepted into five medical schools. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get accepted into that many schools. Dr. Dean’s hard work is a true testament to where is she today and where she is heading.”
Dr. Dean was raised in rural Oregon. She earned her Doctor of Medicine along with her Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane University in Louisiana. Dr. Dean moved to Santa Barbara to complete her residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in internal medicine.
Dr. Dean served as deputy public health officer from 2011 to 2014 and then as public health officer from 2014 through 2018 at the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. Recently, Dr. Dean was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as the assistant director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Dr. Dean is passionate about public service and has dedicated her life’s work to public health. Dr. Dean has received numerous awards for her work, including the Gerald E Bruce Community Service Award from the Ford Family Foundation. Locally, Dr. Dean has been a vocal advocate during times of disaster for the health department ensuring quality and care for all Santa Barbara County residents.
Dr. Dean and her family will be moving to Sacramento when she begins working at the California Department of Public Health.
The mission of the Central Coast Medical Association is promoting the science and art of medicine, care and well-being of patients, protection of the public health, and betterment of the medical profession. The 600-physician member organization includes medical doctors of all specialties throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. For more information, visit www.CCMAHealth.org.
I wonder if Dr. Dean will announce how many people in S.B. County have been affected by the smoke of various and long-lasting wildfires? More people in hospital, lung ailments? More “allergies” reported to doctors? It’s hard to imagine that there is no damage to public health. Is ANYONE checking on this?