Mark Horton, MD, MSPH

Dr. Mark B. Horton is a physician and public health official with eighteen years’ experience in the clinical practice of pediatrics and over fifteen years’ experience directing state and local public health agencies. He was appointed to the position of California State Public Health Officer in 2005. From November 2005 through June 2007, he served as State Public Health Officer and Chief Deputy Director over Public Health Programs for the California Department of Health Services. In 2007 he was appointed as the first Director of the newly created California Department of Public Health and served in that position until early 2011.

Dr. Horton has also served as the Deputy Agency Director for Public Health Programs, the Health Officer for the County of Orange Health Care Agency, Vice President for Community Programs at San Diego Children's Hospital and Health Center, and State Public Health Officer and Director of Health for the state of Nebraska. Dr. Horton currently is a consultant to the Center for Health Leadership and Practice at the Public Health Institute in Oakland, California.

He received his Medical Doctorate from St. Louis University School of Medicine and his Master of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina School Of Public Health. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.