The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health has announced the appointment of Dr Sarah Rodman as its new Executive Director. A respected leader in public health and equity, Dr Rodman brings over 15 years of experience in advancing systems-level transformation across education, health, and community development.

The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health (The L.A. Trust) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Sarah Rodman, PhD, MPH, as its new Executive Director, effective 5 November 2025. A seasoned strategist and advocate for health equity, Dr Rodman has spent more than 15 years driving innovative initiatives at the intersection of education, health, and social change.

Her appointment follows a rigorous national executive search that evaluated a diverse field of highly qualified candidates. Dr Rodman was distinguished by her deep commitment to equity, proven leadership capabilities, and strong alignment with The L.A. Trust's mission to improve the health and well-being of students and families across Los Angeles.

Dr Rodman currently serves as Executive Director of the Randall Lewis Centre for Well-Being and Research at the University of La Verne, where she has also held the position of Interim Associate Vice President for Research & Well-Being. In this role, she managed a research portfolio worth $20 million and spearheaded university-wide initiatives to strengthen grantmaking, compliance, and faculty development.

"Sarah is a visionary leader who brings both strategic insight and a deep commitment to health equity," said Julie Park, Board President of The L.A. Trust. "Her experience across research, education, and public health systems makes her uniquely suited to lead The L.A. Trust into its next chapter. We are thrilled to welcome her aboard."

Throughout her career, Dr Rodman has collaborated with national nonprofits, public agencies, school systems, and advocacy organisations. She has led the creation of over 1,000 culturally responsive programmes, secured multimillion-dollar funding streams, and managed diverse cross-functional teams. Her professional experience includes consulting on health equity for Earthjustice, research leadership roles at Johns Hopkins and Vital Research, and extensive programme development across Los Angeles communities.

A proud Angeleno, Dr Rodman combines professional expertise with lived experience that grounds her approach to community health. While she has not worked directly within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), she has partnered closely with its schools and deeply understands the importance of student-centred health initiatives -- a commitment that lies at the core of The L.A. Trust's mission.

"It's an incredible honour to join The L.A. Trust at this moment," said Dr. Sarah Rodman. "I'm inspired by the organization's legacy of student health leadership and energized by the opportunity to continue building systems that center equity, community, and care."

Dr Rodman succeeds longtime Executive Director Maryjane Puffer, who announced her retirement earlier this year after nearly 15 years of dedicated service. Under Puffer's leadership, The L.A. Trust established 20 school-based Wellness Centres, launched the groundbreaking Data xChange initiative, and supported the development of more than 1,200 student wellness leaders throughout the district.

"Leading The L.A. Trust has been one of the great privileges of my life," said Maryjane Puffer, outgoing Executive Director. "I couldn't be more excited to welcome Dr. Rodman, whose dedication to health equity and systems change is exactly what this moment calls for. I know she will carry forward our mission with integrity and heart."

"The Board is deeply grateful to Maryjane Puffer for her visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to student health," said Park. "As we welcome Sarah, we look forward to building on this strong foundation and advancing our mission with renewed focus and purpose."

Dr Rodman will officially assume leadership on 5 November 2025, with outgoing Executive Director Maryjane Puffer supporting the transition through to the end of the school year.

source:newsreleases.co.uk