California Diabetes Program
California Department of Public Health
University of California, San Francisco

Mailing Address:

PO Box 997377, MS 7211
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377

Physical Address:

1616 Capitol Avenue, MS 7211, Suite 74.420
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 552-9888
Fax: (916) 552-9988

Dean Schillinger, MD
Phone: (916) 552-9888
Fax: (916) 552-9988
E-Mail: dean.schillinger@cdph.ca.gov

Dean Schillinger is a practicing primary care physician at SFGH and a professor at UCSF who joined the California Diabetes Program as Program Chief in April 2008. He will continue in his clinical and academic work while leading the California Diabetes Program, retaining his position as a Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco and continuing as a practicing primary care physician at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), an urban public hospital, where he sees patients, teaches in the primary care residency program, and conducts research. In his administrative capacities, he has directed the Medi-Cal managed care clinic at SFGH, the ambulatory care clinics at SFGH, and has been the Director of Clinical Operations for the Department of Medicine. He is currently the Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations... More.

Susan Lopez-Payan, BA
Phone: (916) 552-9942
Fax: (916) 552-9988
E-Mail: susan.lopez-payan@cdph.ca.gov

Susan joined the California Diabetes Program in 2000 and manages daily program operations. She works closely with the Program Chief to promote the program, projects and resources in the areas of health care system quality improvement, community health interventions, surveillance, and public policy. She is the lead in the area of internal and external communications. More.

Area Health Promotion Specialists:
Five Area Health Promotion Specialist live, work and serve their regions in California. They work primarily in health systems, but also in health communications and community building.

Click on the button below to find the specialist in your area or check the drop down list above their names to see which counties they serve.

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Roger Chene, DHS(c), MPH, RD
Phone: (909) 796-6758
Fax: (909) 796-6758
E-Mail: rogerchene@yahoo.com

Roger is the Area Health Promotion Specialist for the Greater Los Angeles region, which includes the counties of San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. As part of his responsibilities Roger networks with health care organizations to improve the quality of their diabetes care programs, provides education on diabetes and obesity to health care professionals and lay persons, and supports local healthcare collaboratives. More.

MariaElena Avila-Toledo, MPH
Phone: (559) 442-1569
Fax: (559) 442-1569
E-Mail: metoledo@comcast.net

MaríaElena Avila-Toledo joined the California Diabetes Program in August 2006. She is the Area Health Promotion Specialist (AHPS) for the South Central Valley, a region that includes Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare counties. MaríaElena was born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico and was raised in the heart of California’s Central Valley. She is fluent in Spanish and English and  is familiar with both the benefits and challenges associated with living and working in the Central Valley. More.

Tami MacAller, MPH, CHES
Phone: (916) 552-9956
Fax: (916) 552-9988
E-Mail: tami.macaller@cdph.ca.gov

As a Senior Area Health Promotion Specialist in the Northern Central Valley Area, Tami works to improve diabetes awareness and prevention efforts through links between the California Department of Public Health, communities, grassroots collaborative efforts and organizational partners. Currently Tami manages the Diabetes and Tobacco Collaboration project and is the lead for the Diabetes and Tobacco Do you cAARd? task force.  She also provides consultation and support to state and regional health care professionals and organizations on diabetes and diabetes prevention. More.

This position is currently vacant. Check the DIRC home page soon for a recruitment announcement.

Karin Omark, MPH, EdM
Phone: (619) 287-2250
Fax: (619) 287-2250
E-Mail: karinomark@gmail.com

Karin Omark joined the California Diabetes Program in 2006. As the Area Health Promotion Specialist for San Diego, Orange and Imperial counties, Karin works to create linkages between the California Diabetes Program and health plans, healthcare professionals, people with diabetes, and community organizations to promote the implementation of the diabetes care guidelines and primary prevention strategies that will reduce the risk of diabetes and its complications. More

Gary He, PhD
Phone: (916) 552-9923
Fax: (916) 552-9988
E-Mail: gary.he@cdph.ca.gov

Gary has served as a biostatistician and the Diabetes Epidemiology and Surveillance Lead for the Diabetes Program since 2000. He assists in the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of comprehensive diabetes programs, selects appropriate methodologies in public health study designs, performs statistical data analysis in clinical research and epidemiological studies, and translates research findings for specific audiences. More.

Karen M. Black, MSIS
Phone: (916) 552-9975
Fax: (916) 552-9988

E-Mail: karen.black@cdph.ca.gov

Karen joined the California Diabetes Program in 2004, serving as the program’s Evaluation Lead and Manager of DIRC, the online Diabetes Information Resource Center.  As Evaluation Lead, Karen provides evaluation guidance to all program projects with a focus on utilizing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 6-step Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health.  Karen was hired to take a leadership role in the development and maintenance of DIRC and the site was launched after only 11 months.  In her role as DIRC Manager, Karen administers all aspects of the website and takes pride in providing a superior level of customer service that helps facilitate partners’ use of the site. More.

Sarah Enloe
Phone: (916) 552-9872
Fax: (916) 552-9988
E-Mail: sarah.enloe@cdph.ca.gov

Sarah joined the California Diabetes Program in September 2002. As the lead administrative support staff, she oversees record keeping and reporting systems for program activities, contractor requirements, and program budgets. Sarah provides technical consultation and assistance to contractors in the areas of state and federal requirements, budget and accounting procedures, and contract management services. Sarah also serves as technical advisor to staff on administrative policies, contracting, budgeting, and fiscal projections. Sarah provides day-to-day administrative support for the Program and also assists in the hiring process. More.

Valerie Marden
Phone: (916) 552-9875
Fax: (916) 552-9988
E-Mail: valerie.marden@cdph.ca.gov

In October 2002, Valerie was given a temporary assignment to work with the California Diabetes Program and after two days was offered a permanent position.  Having over a decade of clerical experience ranging from construction/labor fields to the legal arena, Valerie works as a part time Project Assistant performing a myriad of tasks that support each staff member and helps make the Program run smoothly every day.  Since the Program’s budget is limited, Valerie finds ways to be cost effective and provides solid input for decision making... More.