Quality health for all
In partnership with the community, deliver sustainable and responsive services that promote population health and equity.
Support the HCA’s impact and action related to addressing health disparities to advance health equity and population health.
Partner and collaborate with cross-sector public and private stakeholders for action.
Partner with community to identify solutions addressing social determinants of health.
Create and ensure mechanisms and conditions for participation across all stakeholders, including non-traditional providers, grassroots organizations, and community members.
Build collective capacity of HCA and community partners for action. Build and share power, particularly with key populations and communities impacted by health inequities.
Clayton Chau, M.D., Ph.D., MASL, is the Director of the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) and County Health Officer. Dr. Chau has served as a role model to his peers in valuing diversity in the workplace by directing various diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and equal opportunity programs throughout his professional career and personal experiences. Dr. Chau has been recognized by local, state and national organizations and associations for his leadership and advocacy for the mental health system to embrace diversity and adopt inclusion practices especially in fostering a workplace that is safe for all.
He strongly supports building a more inclusive company/business culture by embedding diversity and inclusion throughout Agency practices and policies, and has also led and managed efforts to address disparities internally or through funding DEI initiatives in the community. Dr. Chau encourages creative and innovative decision-making and problem-solving, and increasing employee engagement at all levels of the organization.
DEI Activities & Agency Strategy
Dr. Chau is currently leading the HCA through a new strategic plan to advance the Agency’s equity and inclusion goals through promoting inclusivity and an appreciation of cultural, generational, gender expressive, racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and educational diversity that influences the work/office climate and staff performance.
COVID-19
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Dr. Chau has led the HCA in its overall COVID-19 response efforts in Orange County. These efforts included providing increased access to both onsite and at-home testing, particularly focusing on vulnerable and high risk populations. He also led a joint countywide effort known as Operation Independence with other governmental agencies and community partners to deliver vaccines to targeted communities, an effort that has now partly contributed to over 2.3 million people being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) (Formerly Behavioral Health Services)
Dr. Chau has previously led the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Behavioral Health Cultural Competency/Equity Committee at the HCA and at the State level. He was on the Board of Directors for the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions for over a decade bringing the cultural and equity lens to the organization that employs strategies rooted in co-design to increase inclusivity and social justice in the mental health system.
Dr. Mindy Winterswyk is currently the OC Health Care Agency’s Interim Assistant Agency Director. Prior to joining the Director’s Office, Dr. Winterswyk was the Division Manager and Chief of the Medical Therapy Program for the Orange County California Children’s Services (CCS) Program. The CCS program focuses on providing case management and authorizing medical care, as well as providing onsite physical therapy and occupational therapy, to children and young adults 0-21 years of age, with chronic lifelong diagnosis.
Dr. Winterswyk has worked for the County of Orange since May 2007. She is committed to ensuring our most vulnerable populations receive the medical care and other services needed to thrive. Her career includes years of experience serving diverse families of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds with severe chronic disabilities.
Prior to her employment with the County of Orange, Dr. Winterswyk worked in various roles as a Physical Therapist, manager and leader who supported diversity and equity. Thanks to her keen focus on serving children and adults with spinal cord injuries and traumatic neurological injuries and their families, she ensured they had the therapy and equipment to reach their optimal quality of life, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic background. She has strived to ensure participants receive optimal medical care, and occupational and physical therapy services, through the CCS Program.
Her dedication has led Dr. Winterswyk to participate on multiple State workgroups including the Whole Child Model Subcommittee Workgroup, the CCS Budget Workgroup and CalOptima Whole Child Model Family Advisory Committee.
Dr. Winterswyk earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a Pre-Physical Therapy concentration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2000. In 2003, Dr. Winterswyk earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. In 2021, Dr. Winterswyk completed the University of California, Irvine Paul Merage School of Business Certificate in Leadership for Healthcare Management.
Hieu Nguyen, serves as the OC Health Care Agency’s first Director of the Office of Population and Health Equity. Hieu previously served as the Director for System of Care at Mind OC, a non-profit organization that seeks to collaboratively transform the mental health system in Orange County. Through public and private partnerships, he actively engaged community stakeholders to actualize the Be Well OC movement.
In 2013, Hieu was honored as an Emergency Leader by State Senator Lou Correa, and the OC Weekly recognized Hieu as one of Orange County’s 30 Most Influential People. He has also been recognized by the California Conference for Equality and Justice with the Gene Lentzner Human Relations Awards in 2018. Most recently, Hieu was honored by the Orange County Grantmakers as their 2020 Changemaker Award recipient.
Luis A. Gonzalez serves as the Associate Director for the Office of Population Health and Equity. Luis previously served as a Service Chief with Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) where he oversaw the daily operations of outpatient mental health services for clients diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance abuse disorder. Luis was also instrumental in the development and implementation of the first County funded LGBTIQ program, which provided mental health, counseling, support and education services to clients, families and community partners on topics related to and addressing sexual orientation, gender identity, and navigating the coming out process.
Luis has continued to expand his skill set, integrating his years of experience working within the hospital setting to ensure successful health outcomes of patients as they navigate the continuum of care. With almost twenty-years of experience within the Orange County Health Care Agency and with experience working within and across multiple behavioral health service areas, Luis understands the importance of addressing systematic barriers that impact client care and health outcomes. Luis holds a Master of Social Work from California State University Fullerton (CSUF), a Bachelor’s in Human Services from CSUF and is currently in the process of working towards his doctorate degree in Social Work.
Wesley Shain is a Staff Specialist for the Office of Population Health and Equity. His diverse expertise in consumer insight leadership, public affairs, and community health, drive his passion, values, and energy for positive change. As a Randall Lewis Health and Policy Fellow, he focused on homelessness among the High Desert’s rural population and centered his work around diversity, equity, and community coalition efforts.
Emmi’s career has focused on serving disenfranchised communities, especially the LGBTIQ community. This work has included time as a case manager, a cultural competency trainer, and the head of LA Care’s Transgender Health Program. As a life-long learner, Emmi is currently working toward her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Emmi has a BA in Neurobiology and a Master of Public Health from University of California, Irvine.