Watch CBS News

California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris Resigns

SACRAMENTO (CBSLA) — California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris has resigned according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"Dr. Burke Harris' expertise and leadership is championing equity, mental health and early childhood development have been instrumental in advancing the health and well-being of Californians," said Newsom. "I thank her for the impactful initiatives and frameworks she was put in place as California's first-ever Surgeon General, and we'll continue this important work to create healthier communities across the state."

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Coliseum
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 11: Surgeon General of California Dr. Nadine Burke Harris speaks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson Janssen one-dose vaccine during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum vaccination site in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The event is part of the state"u2019s efforts to increase vaccine acceptance among groups that are less likely to be vaccinated. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)

Newsom appointed Harris in January 2019. She previously founded a clinic in San Francisco, serving Bayview Hunter's point, one of the city's most underserved communities. In 2011, she founded the Center for Youth Wellness. Harris was also the founder and leader of the Bay Area Research Consortium on Toxic Stress and Health, focusing on the advancement of scientific screening and treatment of toxic stress.

Harris also received the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Heinz Award for the Human Condition in 2016.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.