 Deputy county administrator elected
to National Academy of Medicine
PIMA COUNTY, Oct. 20, 2023 – Dr. Francisco Garcia, deputy county administrator and chief medical officer for Pima County, was among the 100 newly elected members of the National Academy of Medicine. This recognition was announced by the Academy in a media release Oct. 9.
“New members are elected by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health,” the Academy wrote in its announcement.
The Academy described Garcia as “an internationally recognized expert in border health, emergency preparedness, and women’s reproductive health with more than 24 years of experience in public health and human services administration.”
Garcia, a gynecologist, graduated with an MD degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in 1992. He earned a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University in 1998. From 1998 to 2013 he served as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health at the University of Arizona, where he also served in a variety of leadership roles including as director for the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, the Cancer Disparities Institute, and the Hispanic Center of Excellence.
He joined Pima County in 2013 as director of the Health Department. In her Jan. 8, 2013, memo announcing his selection, then-Deputy County Administrator Jan Lesher said “as a physician and a community health leader, Dr. Garcia will be uniquely positioned to create public awareness about key public health issues, working toward improvements and systemic solutions.”
Garcia was promoted in 2017 to the position of assistant county administrator for Health Services and chief medical officer, then again in 2019 to his current role of deputy county administrator and chief medical officer. He is responsible for overseeing the County’s Health, Behavioral Health, Environmental Quality, and Community and Workforce Development departments, as well as the Digital Inclusion, Emergency Management and Medical Examiner’s offices. Additionally, he oversees the Pima Animal Care Center, and the Pima Library District.
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