Dr. Lemeneh Tefera

Dr. Lemeneh Tefera was appointed as the inaugural Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Clinical Innovation at the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) in July 2024. In this role, he provides clinical, policy, and strategic planning expertise for the Director’s Office and across the department’s multiple programs.

Prior to joining HCAI, Dr Tefera was a health policy advisor at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System where he helped lead plan changes to promote high quality and equitable access for all members. Previously, he served as a United States Senate Health Policy Fellow and, in the federal government, as a policy advisor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Dr. Tefera is a practicing emergency medicine physician with over 25 years of clinical experience, has held multiple faculty appointments, and has worked extensively overseas, including volunteering with Doctors Without Borders.

Dr. Tefera earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine and a health policy master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.