About CJ Tobe

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 I grew up in a small town in Ohio, but Palm Springs is where I found home and where much of my story was written.

My journey has not always been easy. I experienced homelessness here in our community, and in my twenties, I learned I was living with HIV. Those experiences forced me to rebuild, reevaluate what mattered most, and decide what kind of life I wanted to create.

What I found in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley was more than a place to live. I found community, opportunity, and purpose.

That purpose led me into healthcare.

I began my career working directly with patients as a medical case manager, helping people navigate some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives. Over the years, I continued to grow in healthcare leadership, taking on roles focused on community health, access to care, and improving how healthcare reaches the people who need it.

For more than a decade at DAP Health, I have had the privilege of working alongside patients, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and local leaders throughout our region. I started on the front lines and eventually grew into executive leadership, but I have never forgotten the lessons I learned sitting across the table from someone who simply needed help.

Healthcare is personal to me because I have experienced it from more than one side: as a patient, as someone who has faced difficult circumstances, as a frontline healthcare worker, and as a leader responsible for improving how care reaches our communities.

Palm Springs gave me the opportunity to rebuild my life, build a career, and become part of a community I care deeply about.

I believe in giving back to the place that gave me so much, and I believe leadership should always begin with listening, empathy, and a commitment to the people you serve.

C.J.'s commitment to community service extends beyond his professional healthcare work. His board and advisory experience spans healthcare access, mental health, homelessness, HIV advocacy, nonprofit leadership, higher education, and community engagement.

• Amplify Network (formerly Dining Out For Life International) - Board President; nonprofit leadership supporting a national network of community-based HIV organizations and Dining Out For Life programs.
• TruEvolution - Board member; advocacy-based organization expanding health equity and access, including development of its first medical clinic.
• Grand Valley Peace and Justice - Board/community service focused on supporting people experiencing homelessness and strengthening community resources.
• NAMI of Western Slope - Board/community service supporting people and families affected by mental illness and advancing mental health awareness and advocacy.
• California State University, San Bernardino - Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program - Advisory council member supporting healthcare workforce development and the education of future physician assistants.
• IEHP Community Advisory Council Selection Committee - Selection committee service helping strengthen community representation and consumer voice in regional healthcare.
• Cheeky Charity - Advisor supporting community-focused charitable and advocacy efforts for cancer prevention.
• AIDS United - Sector Transformation - Advisory work focused on strengthening HIV-serving organizations, systems, and access to care nationwide.
• California Center for HIV Syndemic Policy Research (CalSenSyn) - Policy advisory work related to HIV, health equity, and the systems that shape access to care.