Sarah Tsay
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Lecturer
SDSU
Primary Email: [email protected]
Bio
Dr. Sarah Tsay is a public health, emergency management, and healthcare operations leader with more than 15 years of experience working across healthcare, government, and humanitarian sectors. She currently serves as Director of Emergency Management, Business Continuity, and Medical Center Operators at UC San Diego Health, where she leads efforts to strengthen the healthcare system’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies while maintaining continuity of patient care.
Her work focuses on healthcare resilience, emergency preparedness, strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, health equity, and translating public health evidence into action. Throughout her career, Dr. Tsay has led response and recovery efforts during complex emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked to build more resilient and equitable systems by bringing together healthcare, government, and community partners. Her previous experience includes leadership roles at Mass General Brigham and NYC Emergency Management, as well as consultative work with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, City of Arlington, and several international humanitarian organizations.
At San Diego State University, she teaches strategic management, communications, and leadership, bringing real-world experience in navigating complex public health challenges and leading organizations through change.
Education
- DrPH, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2023
- MPH, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 2017
- BS, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2008