Long Beach Names Dr. Cliff Okada City Health Officer
Board-certified family physician and HIV specialist Dr. Cliff Okada takes on the role for the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
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The City of Long Beach has appointed Dr. Cliff Okada as its city health officer, the city announced in a press release. The position oversees communicable disease prevention, disease reporting and investigation, and public health emergency response.
Why it matters
Long Beach is legally required to have a health officer as a local health jurisdiction, and the role provides medical and public health leadership for the city's HHS programs and services.
The announcement reports no quantitative figures; the appointment is based on Okada's board certification in family medicine and his certification as an HIV specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. The source does not specify the start date or the size of the department he will oversee.
The players
Dr. Cliff Okada
A board-certified family medicine physician and HIV specialist certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine, with prior clinical leadership roles at Long Beach health clinics.
Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services
The city department responsible for public health programs and services in Long Beach, to which the health officer position provides leadership.
The details
Okada previously served as medical director of the Long Beach HIV Care and Coordination Clinic and as interim medical director of the Occupational Health Clinic. He provided clinical oversight during tuberculosis investigations and the city's COVID-19 response, and earlier spent several years with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, including as medical director of its AHF Wellness Center.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: City announces Okada's appointment as city health officer in a press release.
People
Health officer appointments in California local health jurisdictions are required under state law, and Long Beach's selection of an HIV specialist with COVID-19 response experience continues a public health leadership pattern in the city's health department.
Long Beach residents will have a designated health officer overseeing disease reporting, communicable disease control and emergency response. The appointment affects the public health services the city provides day to day.
The takeaway
A city health officer provides the medical authority that guides Long Beach's responses to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. Residents can follow the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services for updates on programs under the new leadership.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, see People coverage of appointments across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Press Telegram.
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