Clayton Chau, M.D., Ph.D.

Clayton Chau is currently the Regional Executive Medical Director for the Mental Health Network, St Joseph Hoag Health/Providence St Joseph Health System, Southern California Orange County/High Desert Region, where he joined in January 2017.  Previously, he was the Senior Medical Director for Health Services at LA Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public health plan, responsible for behavioral health, care management, utilization management, disease management, health integration quality improvement, behavioral health long-term care, health education & cultural linguistics, physician concurrent review, strategic initiatives and provider continuing education.  He was also the Co-Principal Investigator for a multi-year Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Innovation grant in Transforming Clinical Practice.  He is a Lecturer for the UCLA School of Public Health and an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UC Irvine School of Medicine.  Prior to joining health plan, he worked for the Orange County Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services for 13 years providing care to people living with severe persistent mental illness and integrated care for the county’s Public Health HIV clinic.  He was also the Director of the Center of Excellence in Education, Training, Research and Advocacy for Reducing Health Disparities. Dr. Chau obtained his MD degree from the University of Minnesota and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Chelsea University.  He completed his psychiatry residency at UCLA/San Fernando Valley followed by a fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health in psychoneuroimmunology focusing on substance abuse and HIV.  During his residency he was also selected for the American Psychiatric Association Mead Johnson Fellowship in Community Leadership. Dr. Chau has conducted international trainings in the areas of health care integration, health care system reform, cultural competency, veteran’s health, trauma, homelessness and mental health policy.  He is featured in the 2013 documentary “A New State of Mind:  Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness” narrated by Glenn Close, produced by PBS, the 2013 Emmy Awards winner 60 Seconds PSA and the 2012 Emmy Awards winner Informational/Public Affairs Series “Profiles of Hope” produced by the LA Department of Mental Health.    Dr Chau was named the 2012 Visionary Leader by the National Council for Behavioral Health.  In that same year he was also awarded the prestigious Warren Williams, MD Award from the American Psychiatric Association “for his extraordinary contributions to the profession of psychiatry and the care of those with mental illness.”