Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) announces the appointment of Charlene Dimas-Peinado to the school’s board of directors. Dimas-Peinado brings her expansive background in advancing community well-being to KPSOM’s board. Since 2016, she has served as President & CEO of Wellnest, one of Los Angeles’ oldest nationally recognized trauma-informed behavioral health and housing organizations, now entering its second century of service.
Under her leadership, Wellnest has expanded its professional mental health and housing services, integrating behavioral health, supportive housing that includes family and transitional age youth, and wraparound services for children ranging in age from birth to 25 years old. Dimas-Peinado has also spearheaded capital projects that have integrated care and housing while strengthening Wellnest’s financial position to a $43M annual operating budget and $74M in assets.
“I’m honored to join the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine’s Board of Directors,” said Dimas-Peinado. “Advancing inclusion in leadership, destigmatizing mental health, and building cross sector partnerships have been the driving forces of my career and the foundation of every system I’ve helped transform. Whether managing large scale government contracts, leading major capital campaigns, or overseeing complex, multi phase real estate developments, I’ve seen how bold collaboration and strong infrastructure create lasting community impact.”
In addition to Dimas-Peinado’s operational prowess, she has also contributed to critical cross-functional efforts with legal counsel and board leadership to align healthcare and public-sector standards, transform governance structures, and fortify compliance measures. She presently serves on numerous local and regional committees that address unhoused communities, housing instability, and behavioral health access. As a licensed psychotherapist, Dimas-Peinado has a long-standing commitment to mental health advocacy, fostering effective partnerships to further community well-being, and advancing inclusiveness in leadership. She has utilized a broad skillset at the nonprofit combining coalition work, strategic advocacy, and media engagement to position Wellnest as a trusted resource on policy and funding issues at local, state, and national levels. In addition, Dimas-Peinado earned a Master of Leadership from the University of Southern California and a Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach.
“We are thrilled to welcome Charlene to our board,” said John L. Dalrymple, MD, KPSOM Dean and CEO. “In addition to being a visionary leader in community well-being, she brings an invaluable perspective to our board at a moment when preparing physicians to understand and address the broader forces that shape health has never been more important. We are honored to have her join us as we continue building a medical school grounded in innovation and deep community engagement.”
Glenn Hackbarth, KPSOM Board Chair, shared similar sentiments. “Charlene brings a rare combination of strategic insight, steady leadership, and deep commitment to public service that will strengthen our board’s work in meaningful ways,” he said. “Her experience guiding complex organizations through growth and transformation as well as her expertise in mental health and wellness will help us continue building a strong foundation for the school’s long-term success. We are fortunate to have her perspective as we advance KPSOM’s mission and chart the next chapter of our governance.”
