First 5 San Mateo County is excited to welcome Colleen Chawla as our newest commissioner! With a distinguished career in public health leadership and a deep commitment to equity and community well-being, Colleen brings invaluable expertise to our work supporting young children and families.
Colleen currently serves as the chief of San Mateo County Health, overseeing a vast network of services that help residents lead healthier lives. Before joining San Mateo County, she served as agency director for Alameda County Health, managing essential programs in public health, behavioral health, environmental health, and homelessness. She also spent more than a decade in leadership roles at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, shaping policies to improve access to care.
Her passion for health equity began over 30 years ago through volunteer work, and she has dedicated her career to ensuring that all communities—especially the most vulnerable—have the support they need to thrive. This aligns closely with First 5’s vision of giving every child a strong start in life.
We are thrilled to have Colleen’s leadership and deep knowledge guiding our efforts. Please join us in welcoming her to the First 5 San Mateo County Commission!
