Santa Barbara County hired a new public health director and agricultural commissioner on Tuesday, and both men will start their jobs in January.
The county Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Mouhanad Hammami to lead its Public Health Department, and Jose Chang as agricultural commissioner/director of weights & measures.
“I’m very pleased and excited,” Supervisor Joan Hartmann said during Tuesday’s meeting. “They’re really extraordinary, and we’re glad to welcome them on board.”
She thanked the search team, noting that it’s a difficult time to recruit people, particularly in these fields.
Hammami was hired after a national search for the position following Van Do-Reynoso’s departure for another job in August.
Hammami will start on Jan. 23 and relieve Social Services Director Daniel Nielson, who has been interim director of Public Health since Do-Reynoso left.
Hammami’s work experience includes chief health strategist for Wayne County, Michigan, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and chief health officer and director for that county’s Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness.
He has also worked as a senior vice president for Trinity Health, a multi-state healthcare system.
He will be paid $264,108 per year plus benefits consistent with county department heads.
“In his time at Wayne County, Dr. Hammami implemented a ‘no wrong door’ customer referral management system, integrated clinical services into the Public Health Department, forming a wraparound model of care delivery, and established new health centers in underserved areas,” the Santa Barbara County Executive Office said in a statement about the hire.
“Dr. Hammami is just what our county needs as we move forward from the pandemic. He is going to be a great asset to the county leading the strategy to improve health for all individuals, and improve the underlying social determinants of health in our communities,” Hartmann said in a statement.
“I am so excited to be joining the public health team at Santa Barbara County, and grateful for the trust County Executive (Officer Mona) Miyasato and the Board of Supervisors have placed in me to lead the department,” Hammami said in a statement.
“This is such an important time for public health as we are recovering from a pandemic that reaffirmed the importance of public health. It is a great honor and a privilege to serve residents of Santa Barbara County in ensuring that all their health and wellbeing needs are met as we advance towards ‘One Healthy, Santa Barbara County.’”
According to the county, Hammami has a medical degree from the University of Aleppo, Syria; a certificate in the foundations of public health from the University of Michigan; and a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan.
New Agricultural Commissioner Appointed
Jose Chang comes to the county after working for Monterey and Napa counties.
As assistant agriculture commissioner/sealer for Monterey County, he managed 80 staff members and a $13 million budget, according to the Santa Barbara County Executive Office.
Agricultural Commissioner Cathy Fisher is retiring after 12 years in the position, and Chang will take over on Jan. 23.
Chang will be paid $189,353 annually, plus benefits consistent with county department heads.
“Growing up in an agricultural family, Chang has always been passionate about agriculture,” the County Executive Office said in a statement about the hire. “He studied agriculture at UC Davis and has spent his career working to protect and promote agriculture in the California Agricultural Commissioner System.”
“The experience, skill set and education I have gathered over the past 18 years have led me to this position. I have worked in Napa, where wine grapes are the primary crop, and as you know, wine grapes are one of the top agricultural commodities here,” Chang said in a statement.
“In addition, working in Monterey County, I acquired knowledge and experience of the vegetable and fruit crops grown there, ranging from strawberries to broccoli, which have tremendous economic value in Santa Barbara County.”
In a statement, Hartmann said, “Mr. Chang is a wonderful addition to the County of Santa Barbara. Agriculture is a vital pillar in the economic structure of our county, and with Jose’s background in other California counties, that focus on agriculture and his familiarity with our top crops, he has a good understanding of just how important the work he will be doing is for our whole community.”
According to the county, Chang has a bachelor’s degree in plant biology from UC Davis and has his California Department of Food and Agriculture license for Agricultural Commissioner, Sealer, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner and Deputy Sealer.
He is bilingual in English and Spanish.