Wayne Clark, Ph.D.

Wayne Clark Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the California Mental Health Services Authority. Dr. Clark received his Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley (UCB) in an interdisciplinary program, to include the UCB School of Public Health Alcohol Research Group, UCB Sociology of Education program, and the UCSF Sociology of Medicine program.  In 1973 his vocation commenced at the San Francisco Health Department, as Director of Substance Abuse, for 15 years, followed by 10 years as Assistant Director of the Mental Health Division. From 2002 thru February 2015 he served as Director of the Behavioral Health Division for the Monterey County Health Department. He has been the Principal Investigator and co-researcher on more than 30 state and federal research and service grants.  Areas of investigation have included a clinical trial on acupuncture detoxification, prevention approaches to HIV in high risk populations, dissemination of drug treatment research findings, public policy analysis of the formation of SAMHSA, prevention interventions for pregnant addicts, innovative models of supportive housing, substance abuse and primary care integration, violence prevention, and most recently population based approaches to mental health promotion. In March 2015, Dr. Clark was selected as the Executive Director of CalMHSA where he is dedicating his time to assisting 55 member counties to act jointly either thru rural regional efforts such as Drug Medi-Cal Implementation or statewide efforts such as California’s internationally recognized public health population based campaign to promote mental health, reduce Suicides, eliminate stigma, and improve Student Mental Health.