Santa Clara County honors Dr. Sarah Cody for 27 years as county health officer
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Summary
The Board of Supervisors presented a commendation to Dr. Sarah Cody, praising her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and across public health programs as she retires after 27 years with the county.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors presented a formal commendation on behalf of the county to Dr. Sarah Cody on the occasion of her retirement after 27 years of public service.
County Executive James opened the ceremony, saying the county—and much of the nation—owes Cody gratitude for “the courage, integrity, vision, and leadership” she showed during the pandemic and across other public health work. "You epitomize what it means for someone to actually step forward and put the oath ... to serve our community forward," James said.
The board framed the recognition around Cody’s pandemic leadership and broader public-health career. "When history looks back on the COVID‑19 pandemic, it will show that you saved hundreds of thousands of lives in Santa Clara County through your leadership and your courage during those turbulent years," Supervisor Ellenberg said. Several supervisors and county leaders praised Cody for the county’s early shelter‑in‑place actions and for programs that reached historically marginalized communities.
Cody reflected briefly on her career and the personal sacrifices involved. She said she remembered arriving in the county during a salmonella outbreak early in her career and later being part of the team that enacted what the board described as “the first shelter‑in‑place order in the country” in March 2020. Cody also thanked county staff and named Sarah Redmond as the health officer who will take the role following her departure.
Board members and invited guests noted incidents of public hostility that Cody endured during the pandemic—protests outside her home were mentioned—and they emphasized the county’s continued use of public‑health resources and data infrastructure created or expanded under her leadership. "Your leadership has led to the development of our science branch to support data‑driven decisions," President Lee said.
The board and invited representatives from the state legislature presented a joint resolution and asked Cody to share remarks and join officials for photos. The Board’s presentation and the guest resolution were ceremonial recognitions; no separate vote or ordinance was recorded in the transcript for the commendation.
Dr. Cody said she felt fortunate to have served in her home county and expressed thanks to staff, elected leaders, and her family. "With the almost unbearable and unimaginable chaos that seems to be falling around us, this county and these people ... are really a beacon of hope," she said.
The ceremony concluded with applause and group photographs. The board noted Cody will return to provide a Latino health assessment for the board at a future date.
