Yolo County is handing the keys to its public health operation to Dr. Joanna Locke, a Bay Area physician with deep experience in infectious-disease response and school-based health. County supervisors voted Wednesday to appoint Locke as the next public health officer, with her tenure set to begin on Aug. 24, 2026. She will succeed Dr. Aimee Sisson, and county officials say they zeroed in on Locke for her blend of clinical chops and her track record of linking health services with schools and community partners.
According to The Sacramento Bee, the board’s vote followed a county news release outlining Locke’s recent roles in Alameda County public health and within Oakland schools. Supervisors highlighted her work in communicable-disease response, mental health and community health, while the Bee also noted that Sisson has served as Yolo County’s public health officer since October 2020.
School-Health Leadership in Oakland
Oakland Unified School District records list Locke as director of health and wellness, with responsibility for school nursing, school health centers and districtwide wellness programs for pre-K through 12th-grade students. Those documents, which include contracts and program materials, spell out her work on student mental-health promotion and school-based services. It is the kind of résumé line that helps explain why Yolo supervisors pointed to her experience knitting together education and public health.
Bay Area Outbreak Response Experience
Before stepping into school-health leadership, Locke worked as an acute communicable-disease physician and helped steer clinical guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alameda County, experience that county health officials say is crucial for future outbreak planning. Local coverage of Bay Area public-health decisions has quoted her on masking rules and other pandemic-era calls. KQED has highlighted her role as a clinical guidance lead for Alameda County during recent waves of the virus.
Supervisor Sheila Allen said Locke “brings deep experience in communicable disease response, mental health and community health, along with a strong record of bringing people and organizations together,” while another official, Michael Webb, described her appointment as the right fit for the county’s needs, according to The Sacramento Bee. In a news-release statement reported by the Bee, Locke added, “I look forward to working with government, health care and community partners to support the health of all residents.”
What Comes Next
Locke is scheduled to begin her duties on Aug. 24 and will step in to lead public-health efforts across Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento and other communities in Yolo County. County staff say they will manage a transition period and share updates on any program changes ahead of her start date. Residents, officials added, should expect continuity in core services while Locke settles into the role.
