Representing the Health Care Authority
Dr. Linda Baggio serves as the new Health Equity Director with the Health Care Authority (HCA). In her role, Linda will continue to advance HCA’s health equity efforts and help ensure the people of Washington have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Linda holds a Doctorate in Public Health and brings over a decade of public health experience. In her previous role as Health Equity Liaison for the California Department of Public Health, Linda integrated equity principles into departmental strategies and operations. Her efforts were instrumental in transforming departmental culture and practices to support a trauma-responsive, equitable, and anti-racist organization.
Linda’s expertise extends to developing and implementing comprehensive trauma-informed care programs and conducting community-based participatory research. Her strategic use of data has informed health policies and interventions, significantly impacting public health systems and practices. She believes that health equity work must be actionable, measurable, and deeply rooted in trust and collaboration.
“Health equity is not a checkbox, it’s a commitment to transforming the way we design, implement, and sustain our healthcare systems” Linda says. It requires courageous leadership, accountability, and a relentless focus on eliminating the barriers that prevent communities from achieving their best health. My goal is to ensure that health equity is not a separate initiative, but the foundation of how we operate.
She also emphasizes the role of trauma-informed leadership in driving sustainable change:
“A trauma-informed approach recognizes that psychological safety is essential for advancing health equity and fostering environments where healing can take place. When we create spaces where people feel safe, valued, and empowered, we unlock the full potential of our communities and teams.”
Linda is deeply committed to integrating health equity into organizational policies, systems, and decision-making structures. She looks forward to collaborating across Washington to drive meaningful, people-centered, and sustainable change in pursuit of health equity.
Outside of work, she enjoys abstract painting and photography and cherishes spending time outdoors with her family.