Biography
President & CEO of Wellnest Emotional Health & Wellness
Charlene Dimas-Peinado is a seasoned nonprofit chief executive and licensed psychotherapist with more than two decades of leadership experience advancing behavioral health, housing stability, and community well-being. She currently serves as President & CEO of Wellnest, a nationally recognized trauma-informed behavioral health and supportive housing organization in Los Angeles.
Ms. Dimas-Peinado is a transformational leader who aligns mission, strategy, and infrastructure to expand access to care for vulnerable children, youth, and families. Her expertise spans complex government-funded systems, multi-sector partnerships, and large-scale capital development. She has led more than $100 million in real estate acquisition and development projects designed to strengthen community health infrastructure, integrating behavioral health services with stable housing and wraparound support.
A respected voice in policy and advocacy, Ms. Dimas-Peinado works at the intersection of healthcare, housing, and public systems reform. She frequently collaborates with local and state leaders to advance equitable access to quality mental health services and to address the social drivers of health affecting children and young adults.
Q&A
What inspires you in your work?
I’m inspired by the possibility of systems change that truly improves the lives of children and families. When behavioral health, housing, and primary care are integrated, I’ve seen young people not just survive but thrive.
If you could change one thing about healthcare, what would it be?
I would fully integrate behavioral health into primary care. Mental and physical health are inseparable, yet our systems treat them differently. Whole-person care should be the standard, not the exception.
What life experience has taught or changed you the most?
When my husband had a heart attack at 49, I was leading an organization and raising young children. Experiencing that as a mother changed me. It wasn’t about being strong - it was about being present, honest, and steady for my kids while we moved through uncertainty together. It made healthcare deeply personal and reminded me how profoundly it shapes a family’s sense of safety and stability.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I love adventure and one of the most memorable was participating in a paleontology dig, excavating a Stegosaurus fossil in 120-degree desert heat in Utah. It meant early mornings, monsoon weather rolling in unexpectedly, no showers, and hours carefully brushing away layers of earth with tiny tools. It was gritty, fascinating, and incredibly humbling to uncover something millions of years old beneath your hands.
