Dr. Diana Ramos, California Surgeon General, to deliver 2023 UCLA Fielding Commencement address

Dr. Diana Ramos, California Surgeon General, will deliver the 2023 commencement address for the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health’s Commencement ceremony on Friday, June 16.



Ramos, who earned a Master of Public Health degree from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in 2004, was appointed California Surgeon General by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2022. Responsibilities of the role include driving solutions to California’s public health challenges and advising the Governor. Ramos’ priorities as surgeon general include addressing mental health, reproductive health, adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress.



“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Ramos back to our campus to deliver this year’s commencement address,” said UCLA Fielding School of Public Health dean and distinguished professor of biostatistics Dr. Ron Brookmeyer. “Our greatest societal challenges today demand public health solutions and our graduating students are fortunate to hear from Dr. Ramos — an alum of UCLA Fielding in a critically important public health leadership role here in California — as they begin their own journeys as public health professionals.”



Prior to assuming the position of California Surgeon General, Ramos held roles including assistant deputy director of chronic disease prevention for the California Department of Public Health, director for reproductive health in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and adjunct associate professor at the Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine. 



Ramos, an obstetrician and gynecologist whose expertise include health disparities and the social determinants of health, previously served as chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the California and Ecuador District (IX) and secretary of the executive board of the National Hispanic Medical Association. 



UCLA Fielding School of Public Health’s Commencement will be held on Friday, June 16, at 5:30 PM PDT in UCLA’s Royce Hall. The live ceremony will be available for viewing on the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health's website and YouTube channel.

Visit the 2023 UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Commencement page.