Sandra Shewry, Director

On July 1, 2007, Sandra Shewry assumed leadership of the newly established Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).  With an extensive background as an innovator and leader of public health services,     Ms. Shewry is well prepared to lead DHCS, which administers health programs serving nearly 7 million Californians. Managing expenditures of more than $37 billion in public funds, DHCS oversees the state Medicaid program (Medi-Cal), the California Children’s Services Program, the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program and the California Partnership for Long-Term Care. The mission of the 3,000-employee department is to preserve and improve the health of Californians. 

Prior to her current role, Ms. Shewry was appointed Director of the California Department of Health     Services (CDHS) in 2004 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. One of the largest departments within     state government, CDHS (now defunct) managed a budget of $39 billion and 6,000 employees.  At CDHS, Ms. Shewry oversaw numerous programs targeted to public health, such as emergency        preparedness and disease-prevention, the licensing of health facilities, and Medi-Cal.  

Prior to joining CDHS, Ms. Shewry was Director of Health at the National Governor’s Association’s Center for Best Practices. She also served as Executive Director of the California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board from 1996 to 2002 and was responsible for the development and implementation of California’s high-risk health insurance pool (Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan), for a subsidized pregnancy coverage program (Access for Infants and Mothers), a small employer purchasing cooperative (Health Insurance Plan of California) and California’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program (Healthy Families).

Ms. Shewry has 25 years of experience in California state government, beginning her career as a health planning analyst with CDHS and later serving as an assistant secretary at the Health and Welfare Agency. 

Ms. Shewry earned graduate degrees in public health and social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley.

January 2008