City and County of San Francisco, CA
01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 13:12
Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax Announces Departure from San Francisco Department of Public Health
January 16, 2025 -- Today, Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax announced his resignation from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) after nearly six years.
"I have had the privilege to serve the people of San Francisco, working to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans," said Dr Colfax. "Throughout my tenure we produced results, increased accountability and improved health equity while driving change. From Covid-19 to Mpox, the fentanyl crisis, to hiring a record number of nurses and passing two infrastructure bonds, we have built a stronger department. We have accomplished much in the past six years, and there is no doubt that the dedicated, hard working and compassionate staff at DPH will continue to deliver for San Francisco."
Dr. Colfax started his career at SFDPH as a medical intern at Zuckerberg San Francisco General in 1993. His first job out of medical training was with SFDPH AIDS Office in 1998, where he conducted groundbreaking HIV research. He left San Francisco in 2012 to be the National HIV/AIDS advisor for President Barak Obama. Shortly after he returned to SFDPH as the Director of Health, the COVID-19 pandemic began, then followed by the Mpox health emergency and the emergence of fentanyl.
"As Director of Health, Dr. Colfax contributed to saving lives of San Franciscans during one of our city's most challenging times. His dedication and work to the health and wellbeing of our city's communities is remarkable," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "His leadership has enabled to our recovery, and I thank him for his service to our city."
Dr. Colfax led the city through these and other daunting challenges, most significantly shepherding the transformation of San Franciso's mental health and substance use services. Using lessons from COVID-19, he implemented a metrics-driven, quality-focused approach to a system that was over bureaucratic and underperforming. As a result, 430 new treatment and care beds were brought online, with an additional 135 in the pipeline for this year. SFDPH launched on-demand buprenorphine, initiated telehealth services for medication assisted treatment and successfully lobbied the state and Congress for reforms to make methadone more accessible, making it easier for people seeking treatment.
"Dr. Colfax is an extraordinary public health leader," Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. "From our city's COVID response, to saving Laguna Honda hospital, to expanding primary care and treatment for substance use disorders, Dr. Colfax has led with a data driven, community-centered focus that benefits all San Franciscans."
Under his leadership innovative programs were initiated to support the treatment and recovery from substance use disorders, such as such contingency management, deploying behavioral health workers in shelters and supportive housing, pharmacy deliveries to those trying to maintain recovery and immediate shelter for unhoused people who accepts treatment during nighttime hours. Moreover, SFDPH opened the Maria X Martinez clinic to provide low-barrier urgent care for unhoused individuals seeking support for substance use and/or mental health. SFDPH also expanded perinatal care to the most vulnerable and the unhoused to improve pregnancy outcomes and maternal and infant health.
As a result of these efforts, more people are accessing treatment: in the past 12 months substance use residential treatment admissions have increased 35% and the median wait time for a bed has decreased by 50%. Methadone starts and buprenorphine prescriptions are up 39% and 52%, respectively in 2024 compared with 2023. These data are associated with a more than 20% reduction in overdose deaths in 2024 compared with 2023. This spring, the city's first 24-hour psychiatric stabilization unit for first responders to drop off patients in behavioral crisis will open.
During the unprecedented world-wide COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Colfax led DPH as it implemented one of the most intensive and comprehensive responses in the country that kept San Francisco's death rate to half the state rate and one-third the U.S. rate. The City was the first in the nation to establish testing for essential workers and also developed an extensive network of COVID-19 vaccination sites and mobile units, which resulted in 95% of all residents receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, one of the highest rates in the country.
"The health of our City depends on strong leadership that is both compassionate and collaborative. Dr. Colfax has been our partner in health and I thank him for leading the city through historic challenges, including a global pandemic and the overdose crisis. As a UCSF alum, he has fostered tighter partnerships between SFDPH and UCSF, resulting in better health for the city's most vulnerable residents. I thank him for his dedication to medicine, public health, and to the people of San Francisco," said UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood.
During his tenure, Dr Colfax continued to treat and support patients living with HIV/AIDS at Zuckerberg San Franscisco Hospital. Due to Dr Colfax's extensive background in HIV and AIDS contributed to the City's, rapid response to Mpox, limiting the spread of the disease by administering more than 55,000 vaccines during a 13-month span. Moreover, San Francisco recorded the lowest rate of HIV infections ever in 2023 and has had a dramatic reduction in syphilis and chlamydia rates.
Dr. Colfax improved and invested in the infrastructure, systems and the delivery of healthcare with key milestones that included:
- Two public healthcare bonds passed by voters that will address healthcare infrastructure needs for generations of San Franciscans.
- Reduction in the city's General Fund contribution to DPH budget.
- First unified electronic medical record implemented, increasing billing rates by 36%.
- Collections for medical billing increased by 32%.
- Vacancy rate reduced by 49%, turnover reduced by 25% and retention increased by 6% in last two years.
- Reduced nurse vacancy rates to zero percent after years of national pandemic-related staffing shortages.
- Laguna Honda Hospital recertified in both the Medicare and Medicaid programs by the federal government.
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital earning an additional star under federal quality rating program.
"Dr. Colfax has provided exceptional leadership, guidance, and unwavering support to the department, his vision and strategic thinking were key to enhancing and expanding DPH's ability to provide quality and life-saving care across San Francisco." San Francisco Health Commission President Dr. Laurie Green.
Dr. Colfax's last day is February 7, 2025. Deputy Director Dr. Naveena Bobba will serve as Acting Director.
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About the San Francisco Department of Public Health
The mission of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans. SFDPH achieves its mission through the work of three main divisions - the San Francisco Health Network, Population Health Division and Behavioral Health Division. The San Francisco Health Network is a community of top-rated clinics, hospitals and programs that serves more than 125,000 people annually at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, and ambulatory care clinics across the city. The Population Health Division monitors diseases, promotes health, protects consumers, and monitors and responds to public health threats. The Behavioral Health Services Division provides mental health and substance use prevention, early intervention, and treatment services. DPH programs represent and celebrate the city's diversity, serving individuals and families of all backgrounds and identities, regardless of immigration or insurance status. The Health Commission is the Department's governing body and provides oversight and policy direction. Visit us at sf.gov/publichealth.
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City and County of San Francisco