Within 840 miles of coastline, forests, mountains, and valleys, reside over 39 million people and the fifth largest economy in the world. California is almost more like a country than it is a state, and with these colossal proportions come many responsibilities—most importantly of all, public health.

Our guest is the remarkable Dr. Diana Ramos, California Surgeon General. Dr. Ramos was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in August of 2022. She brings over three decades of experience in public health, with a strong focus on health equity and reproductive health, and is the first Latina to hold this position.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Ramos has driven change through various roles including Public Health Administrator at the California Department of Public Health and Director of Reproductive Health in Los Angeles County.

In this episode, you will learn about Dr. Ramos’ journey from a single-parent household to leading public health initiatives. She shares her insights on the importance of maternal and mental health, addressing adverse childhood experiences, her current initiatives as Surgeon General, and offers valuable perspectives on improving public health outcomes.

Do you have any thoughts or guest suggestions? Please email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.