Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar is an Emergency Management Specialist who currently serves San Mateo County Health as the Health Emergency Preparedness Manager and Deputy Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator. As an accomplished interdisciplinary professional, Dr. Dhapodkar has an extensive background across a multitude of fields, including critical care medicine, information technology, business, and public health. Dr. Dhapodkar serves as the Co-Chair for the Bay Area Biological Threat Detection Program, Public Health Preparedness Subcommittee Co-Chair, California Conference of Local Health Officers Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee Liaison, Association of Bay Area Health Officials Liaison, and Northern California Regional Intelligence Center Terrorism Liaison Officer for San Mateo County Health.

In her current role, she provides oversight to ensure the continuity of optimal emergency medical health services for all during times of disaster, with an emphasis on collaboration and integration of medical health emergency preparedness at all stages. She has led response operations for events such as wildfires, biological incidents, chemical incidents, active shooter events, radiological incidents, and power outages. Notably, she has recently responded to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, and Public Safety Public Shutoffs. In the COVID-19 Pandemic, she implemented ethical resource allocation, operationalized an Alternate Care Site, and created an outreach team to serve vulnerable populations. In the CZU August Lightning activities, she led coordination of medical health resources and provided advanced planning to identify vulnerable populations. In response to Public Safety Power Shutoffs, she initiated planning protocols for rapid response to identify vulnerable individuals. In all her efforts, Dr. Dhapodkar advocates for the most vulnerable populations to the right to healthcare, especially in times of disasters. She is driven by service to ensure equitable access to quality health for all.