The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) mission is to advance the health and well-being of California's diverse people and communities. Director of CDPH, Tomás J. Aragón, M.D., Dr. P.H., and interim State Public Health Officer Erica Pan, MD, MPH, are committed to creating health policy through sound scientific evidence. CDPH works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, are comprehensive in scope and include infectious disease control and prevention, food safety, environmental health, laboratory services, patient safety, emergency preparedness, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, family health, health equity and vital records and statistics.