San Rafael, CA – Dr. Lisa Warhuus, a psychologist with over 25 years of experience working in health and human services, education, social justice, and system reform, is the County of Marin’s choice to lead its Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Warhuus’ first day on the job will be February 20.
Dr. Warhuus recently served as the Director of Health, Housing, and Community Services at the City of Berkeley, an independent local health jurisdiction. In this capacity, she oversaw an operating budget of more than $100 million and more than 200 employees across various divisions, including Public Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, Housing and Community Services, and Aging Services.
Dr. Warhuus also was a vital member of the Senior Executive Team for the City of Berkeley, providing counsel to the City Manager, Mayor, City Council, and the public on matters pertaining to health and housing. Notably, she played a key role in initiatives such as the City's response to COVID-19, contributing to the citywide emergency efforts, and spearheading the development of a 24/7 mobile crisis response for individuals facing mental health and/or substance use crises.
“We feel very fortunate to have someone with Dr. Warhuus’ skills and ability join our executive team,” said County Executive Matthew Hymel. “Throughout her career, Dr. Warhuus has demonstrated an ability to bring stakeholders together to effectively address our most complex community challenges.”
Prior to her tenure at the City of Berkeley, Dr. Warhuus served for a decade at Alameda County Health Care Services Agency as a Director of Children and Youth Initiatives and Associate Director. In this role, she managed and cultivated partnerships that helped expand mental health programs in multiple school districts. She also championed culturally responsive health and wellness services that aimed to support vulnerable populations.
Dr. Warhuus holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley and master’s and doctoral degrees from Aarhus University in Denmark.
“It is a true honor to have been selected for this important position. I cannot wait to get to know the incredible community of Marin County and to collaborate with the dedicated team within the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Dr. Warhuus.
Dr. Warhuus replaces Dr. Benita McLarin, who retired in December 2023. With the County of Marin, Dr. Warhuus will lead a team of over 800 full-time equivalent staff positions and manage an annual budget of $258 million. Her annual salary will be $288,433 with benefits consistent with those received by other department heads.