Data Expo 2023 Speaker Biographies

Dr. Mark Ghaly was appointed Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency in early 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom.

In serving California, Dr. Ghaly has the privilege of working with partners across sectors and disciplines to improve the lives and life chances of ALL Californians. This has been especially true during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ghaly is a primary care pediatrician who continues to use his clinical and community experiences, working in California’s health care safety net system, to inform a whole person, whole community, approach to integrating services so they are equity-anchored and person-centered for ALL, but especially the most vulnerable Californians.

Dr. Ghaly holds the deep belief that together our collective efforts can not only serve Californians well today but set us on a path where ALL Californians have a brighter and healthier future.

Nothing he does can be done well without the support of his wife, Dr. Christina Ghaly, and his 4 young children.

John Ohanian is the Chief Data Officer and Director for the Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) Office within the California Health and Human Services (CalHHS) Agency.

Prior to his role with CalHHS, John spent 30 years working to assist local businesses and non-profits develop new organizational data systems, secure critical funding, and solve complex problems. At CDII, John is focused on identifying ways to collect better quality data to close existing disparities, innovate more efficient processes, and ensure equitable distribution of resources to all communities in California.

John received his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego in Business Administration. He also attended the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program and earned the certification for Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management. John has four children and loves to venture out with his wife Victoria on road trips, but train travel is by far his favorite!

Adam serves as the Director of the CalHHS Office of Technology and Solutions Integration (CalHHS OTSI – formerly OSI) as well as the Agency Chief Information Officer (AIO) for the California Health and Human Services Agency. He brings with him a passion for government, service, and a focus on whole person care. Prior to this role Adam spent 5 years as the Assistant Director of Horizontal Integration at the Department of Social Services. In both these roles, Adam has focused on integrating all Health and Human Service programs to provide the best overall experience and outcomes for the public. Data and the power it has to simplify the public’s interaction with government, as well as driving better program and policy design are key components of that work.

Previously Adam held multiple roles across CA government including five years in the State Legislature and 3 years with the California Technology Agency/Department of Technology.

He is supported and inspired by his amazing wife and two insanely bright and joyous daughters. In his free time he enjoys playing soccer, coaching, running and just about anything outdoors and away from a computer.

Melissa Stafford Jones is Director of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative in the California Health & Human Services Agency, appointed to the position by Governor Gavin Newsom in Fall 2021. Melissa’s work and leadership in health and public policy is grounded in deep dedication to the vision of improving health, well-being and opportunity for all Californians to thrive and fully reach their potential, particularly those who are the most underserved and face the most systemic barriers to opportunity. Prior to her appointment with the State of California, Melissa was Executive Director of the First 5 Association of California, Executive Director of the Lesher Foundation, served as Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region IX from 2014-2017 under the Obama administration, and was President & CEO of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. Melissa holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Ross Lallian joined the California Department of Aging (CDA) in December 2022 as Chief of Research in the Division of Policy, Research, and Equity. In his role with CDA, Ross plays a critical role in advancing the Master Plan for Aging, including leading the California Aging and Disability Research Partnership, the Data Dashboard for Aging, and many other efforts. Prior to joining CDA, Ross was the Health Workforce Development Research and Evaluation Chief at the Department of Health Care Access and Information. In that role, he conducted research to understand health workforce disparities, health equity issues, and health workforce data needs. Ross has also conducted pension related research, including understanding how pensions impact state and local economies. Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master of Science degree in Accounting from California State University, Sacramento.

Linette Scott, MD, MPH, is the Chief Data Officer and the Deputy Director of Enterprise Data and Information Management in the California Department of Health Care Services. In this role she works across the Department and with stakeholders to ensure that reliable data and information are available, and used to drive improvements in population health and clinical outcomes through the Department’s programs and policies. Dr. Scott is a Board Certified Physician in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine and in Clinical Informatics. She has a Doctor of Medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School, a Masters in Public Health from University of California, Davis, and a Bachelors of Arts in Physics from University of California, Santa Cruz. Highlights from her career include serving as a General Medical Officer with the United States Navy, first as squadron physician with the Regional Support Group and later as the military physician for an Active Duty clinic; as a Public Health Medical Officer with the California Department of Public Health; as the California State Registrar and Deputy Director of Health Information and Strategic Planning in the California Department of Public Health, and as the Interim Deputy Secretary for Health Information Technology at the California Health and Human Services Agency.

Michael D. Valle (he/him) is Chief Information Officer and Deputy Director for Information Services at the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, where he oversees data analytics and technology. The department expands equitable access to health care for all Californians and is a leader in health data, transparency, and evidence-based analysis. Since 2009 he has worked in various policy and management roles with the department and the California Health and Human Services Agency. He has overseen the implementation of numerous data transparency programs, led department strategic planning, and administered technology governance for the enterprise. From 2014 to 2019 he served as Adjunct Professor for Political Science at American River College, where he taught American and California Government. Mr. Valle holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy.

Aparna Ramesh is the Chief of the Research and Data Insights Branch within the Research and Automation Data Division at the California Department of Social Services. She leads a team of 50 amazing researchers, who centralize and mobilize departmental and cross-departmental data to answer key policy and research questions. Their work includes using data to facilitate cross-enrollment in safety net programs, measuring the impacts of CDSS programs on the lives of Californians, collating evidence on what works and how to improve CDSS programs, developing dashboards to support data driven program implementation, leading state and federal reporting on program progress, linking and managing data assets and the flow of data in and out of the department, running surveys to collect data to improve departmental and programmatic outcomes, and performance measurement and management.

Aparna has over a decade of experience working with federal, state, and local government to build evidence feedback loops that foster data-driven decision making and policy. She has a demonstrated track record of breaking down data silos to increase coordination and collaboration across networks of departments and services that serve vulnerable individuals. Prior to CDSS, Aparna led research and data projects at the California Policy Lab at UC Berkeley, NORC at the University of Chicago, and Deloitte Consulting’s federal practice. She has an MPA from Princeton University.

Dan Torres serves as the Chief Equity Officer at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Prior to joining Cal HHS, he was the Program Director for Immigrant Rights at the Haas, Jr. Fund, a private philanthropy. Previously, he served as Special Assistant to Attorney General Xavier Becerra and was Director of Immigrant Integration in Governor Jerry Brown’s administration. Early in his career, Dan served as the Chief of the Immigration Services Branch at the Department of Social Services and worked as a legal services lawyer in rural California.

Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna (Ro-hawn Raw-the-krish-nuh) @DrRohanRad was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate to lead the Office of Health Equity (OHE). He serves as a Deputy Director, Chief Equity Officer, and Tribal Liaison for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). He strives to uphold the universal values of love, dignity, and transformation. He believes that inequity in a world of abundance is morally and socially unacceptable. He aims to advance partnerships to change narratives and power structures to help create a California for All.

Rohan supports California’s COVID-19 equity work and leads OHE’s broad portfolio: advancing anti-racism through a Racial Health Equity Initiative, advancing Health in All Policies including California’s climate change planning, advancing behavioral wellness and resiliency for diverse populations through the California Reducing Disparities Project, promoting gender health equity including the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund, and meeting OHE’s statutory mandate. He also serves as Co-Chair of the CalHHS Agency JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee and as a board member of the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health (NASOMH) representing Region 9. 

Rohan has 20 years of experience learning from and working with impacted communities. He spent 10 years at a local health department most recently serving as Co-Chair of the Health Equity Committee at the California Conference of Local Health Officers since 2019, Deputy Health Officer for Contra Costa County since 2018, and Chair of the Department of Family and Adult Medicine from 2015 to 2019. His local experience responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, power shutoffs, wildfire smoke, and heat emergencies has solidified his commitment to addressing the overlapping public health crises of climate change and structural racism.

Rohan brings a global perspective to California’s diverse population having lived and worked abroad as a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador, a Public Health Consultant in Africa with UNICEF and the Norwegian Refugee Council, a Rotary Ambassador Scholar in India, and the Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador at Doctors Without Borders. His efforts always focus on building healthy communities in partnership with impacted populations.

Rohan graduated from Stanford University (B.A. in Human Biology, Concentration in Cross-Cultural Medicine, and Honors in Latin American Studies), University of California, Berkeley (M.P.H and M.S), Christian Medical College in Vellore, India (certificate in Infectious Disease), and University of California, San Francisco (M.D.).

Marcela M. Ruiz is the Director of the Office of Equity at the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) where she works with the Office of Tribal Affairs, Immigrant Integration Branch, Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity, Language Services, and Accessibility teams to improve access and outcomes for historically excluded populations. In her prior role at CDSS as Chief of the Immigration and Refugee Programs Branch Marcela was responsible for the development and administration of the State’s immigration legal services program. She also oversaw the State’s Refugee Programs Bureau and the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program which provide social services and cash aid to humanitarian migrants including refugees, asylees, and victims of crime. Marcela served as deputy director at California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., where she held several positions, including regional director, directing attorney, staff attorney and a Berkeley Law Foundation fellow. Marcela worked as a union organizer and served as director of organizing at the New York Hotel Trades Council. Marcela earned a JD from UC Berkeley Law School and a B.A. from Columbia University.

Christine Blake is an IT Manager for the Center of Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS). Christine has a background in Enterprise Architecture (EA), Project Management and Portfolio Management. Christine received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southern University A&M in Baton Rouge, LA and her MBA from Strayer University in Atlanta, GA. Christine is the Product Manager of the CalHHS Equity Data Dashboard. The purpose of the Equity Data Dashboard is to access demographic data completeness within CalHHS health and human services programs and address health disparities within the California population.

Mary Ann Bates is Executive Director of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System. This statewide data system provides tools to help students reach their goals and delivers information on education and workforce outcomes. Its vision is to foster evidence-based decision-making to help Californians build more equitable futures and empower individuals to reach their full potential.

Mary Ann previously served as a senior fellow at the White House Office of Management and Budget and as the Executive Director of J-PAL North America at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She began her life in Ohio’s Amish community and started her college experience via dual enrollment at Kent State University Tuscarawas. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Ryan Gillette is the Chief Data Officer and Deputy Director over the Research, Automation, and Data Division (RADD) at the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). His team has two main objectives: ensuring the accurate, timely, and efficient collection and management of CDSS enterprise data assets, and deploying that data through research, analysis, and visualizations to support policymaking. Prior to joining CDSS, Ryan was a Director with Social Finance, where he led the Public Sector Practice focusing on issues related to early childhood, homelessness, and economic mobility. Before that, he was a Program Director and founding member of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Performance Lab, where he pioneered the use of Social Impact Bonds – a contracting tool designed to increase the use of data and evidence-based practices in policymaking. Ryan holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Russian from Middlebury College.