Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a series of appointments across various state boards and councils. These appointments include positions in the Department of State Hospitals, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the State Rehabilitation Council, and the Physician Assistant Board.

Seth Judd from Napa has been appointed as Medical Director of Napa State Hospital at the Department of State Hospitals. Judd has held several roles within the department since 2018, including Chief of Psychiatry and Senior Psychiatric Supervisor. He is also a psychiatrist at Liberty Healthcare/Maguire Correctional Facility and owns Personal Psychiatry and Forensic Consulting Inc. His educational background includes a Doctor of Osteopathy from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Midwestern University. This role does not require Senate confirmation, with compensation set at $448,716.

Irene Valdez from Stockton will join the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Valdez is an Educational Consultant at the Consortium on Reading Excellence and previously worked as an Instructional Coach in Stockton Unified School District. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Benedictine University. The position offers compensation of $100 per diem without requiring Senate confirmation.

Michelle Bello from Sacramento has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council. Bello works as an Education Programs Consultant for the California Department of Education and was formerly a principal in Lodi Unified School District. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Inquiry from Teacher’s College of San Joaquin. This appointment does not offer compensation or require Senate confirmation.

Philip DaVisio from Galt will serve on the Physician Assistant Board. DaVisio is currently a Supervisory Physician Assistant at Kaiser Permanente and teaches as an Assistant Professor at A.T. Still University. His qualifications include a Doctorate in Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg and extensive experience in emergency medicine roles. Like others, this position requires no Senate confirmation but provides $100 per diem compensation.

These appointments reflect Governor Newsom's ongoing efforts to fill key roles within state departments with experienced professionals.