Charlene Dimas-Peinado joins KPSOM Board of Directors [Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine]The head of one of Los Angeles’ oldest behavioral health organizations is joining the board of Pasadena’s only medical school.
The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine announced Wednesday that it has appointed Charlene Dimas-Peinado, president and CEO of Wellnest, to its board of directors. Dimas-Peinado brings more than two decades of experience in community behavioral health and supportive housing to a school that has made health systems science — the study of forces beyond the exam room that shape patient outcomes — a core part of its curriculum.
The medical school, located at 98 S. Los Robles Ave. in Pasadena, opened in 2020 and graduated its first class in 2024. It achieved full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education that same year. The school’s approach trains future physicians in biomedical and clinical sciences alongside the community and systemic factors that influence health, according to the school.
Dimas-Peinado has led Wellnest since 2016, guiding the organization through a period of expansion. Formerly known as the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic, Wellnest was founded in 1924 and provides trauma-informed behavioral health and housing services for children, young adults, and families. Under her leadership, the organization has grown to a $43 million annual operating budget, according to Wellnest.
She has overseen a series of housing and infrastructure projects, including the Life Learning Center in 2019, The Nest on Florence — permanent supportive housing for families — in 2022, and The Nest on Exposition, interim housing for young adults ages 18 to 25, completed this year.
“Advancing inclusion in leadership, destigmatizing mental health, and building cross sector partnerships have been the driving forces of my career,” Dimas-Peinado said in a statement released by the school. “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.”
Dimas-Peinado is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a Master of Leadership from the University of Southern California and a Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. She is the first Latina to lead Wellnest since its founding. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and chairs the Women’s Policy Council of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
John L. Dalrymple, MD, KPSOM’s dean and CEO, said Dimas-Peinado’s background in community well-being adds a perspective the school values as it trains a new generation of physicians.
“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,” Dalrymple said in the statement.
Glenn Hackbarth, the school’s board chair and former chairman of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, said Dimas-Peinado’s expertise in guiding organizations through growth and her work in mental health would strengthen the board’s long-term direction.
“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,” Hackbarth said.
The school’s board includes leaders from Kaiser Permanente and other sectors. KPSOM, which waived tuition and fees for its first six classes, serves Kaiser Permanente’s broader mission of integrated care for more than 12 million people nationwide.
For Pasadena, the appointment adds another layer to the city’s growing role as a center of medical education. Its students and faculty have been part of the local community since the school’s founding — including responding to the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which displaced residents across neighboring Altadena.
Dimas-Peinado’s own organization responded to those fires as well, issuing guidance on helping children recover from trauma in the wake of the disaster.
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