Minako Watabe

Minako Watabe has an extensive work experience in the medical field. Minako is currently serving as the Chief Medical Officer at Ventura County Medical Center & Santa Paula Hospital since August 2022. Prior to this role, they held the position of Associate Chief Medical Officer at the same organization from January 2020 to September 2022.

In addition, they have been actively involved with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Since March 2017, they have been serving as the Co-Chair of the District IX Committee on Global Health.

Minako Watabe also had a significant role at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as the District IX Section IV Chair and Co-Chair for the Committee on Global Health from March 2017 to September 2022.

Before joining Ventura County Medical Center & Santa Paula Hospital, they served as the Associate Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Ventura County Medical Center/Santa Paula Hospital Clinic starting from November 2010.

Minako also completed a REACH Fellowship at the UCSF Office of Reproductive Health and the Environment from September 2015 to 2016.

Their career began at UCLA Medical Center, where they worked as a Resident Physician from June 2006 to June 2010.

Minako Watabe completed their Bachelor's degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001. Minako then pursued a degree in Public Health and International Relations at the same university from 1999 to 2001. Later, they obtained their Medical Degree (M.D.) from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai between 2002 and 2006. Finally, from 2016 to 2020, they attended the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, where they earned their Msc in Public Health with a focus on International Public Health/International Health.