Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri Names Yamelsie Rodriguez as President & CEO
For Immediate Release: Aug. 7, 2019
Rodriguez “brings passion, experience, and a core belief in our mission to provide high-quality health care to our patients”
ST. LOUIS – Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (PPSLRSWMO) announced today that, effective August 12, 2019, Yamelsie Rodriguez will become the organization’s new President and CEO.
Rodriguez brings to the position over 15 years of experience of health care and management experience, serving most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
“Yamelsie is a strong advocate for women’s healthcare and brings passion, experience, and a core belief in our mission to provide high-quality health care to our patients,” says PPSLR Board Chair Linda Locke. “In an environment in which the state is attempting to restrict access to family planning and reproductive services, Yamelsie brings a track record of collaboration with public health organizations, healthcare providers and educational institutions to expand reproductive and family planning services including STI screening, transgender and contraceptive services.”
She will be ready to lead from day one and to expand our efforts to provide high-quality health care, no matter what.
As COO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Rodriguez most recently led a team of more than 220 employees. She has conceived strategies to expand health care services offered at 17 health centers across Illinois, managed new infrastructure initiatives, launched new business ventures, and developed partnerships with public school systems to empower young people to take control of their reproductive health.
“At a time where the state of Missouri is weaponizing the regulatory process to push their dangerous agenda to deny women access to abortion, I am determined to keep fighting for reproductive justice and equity, in the courts and beyond to protect access to the full range of reproductive health care, including safe abortion care for all Missourians,” said Rodriguez. “I am incredibly honored to lead PPSLRSWMO’s strong team into the future, a future where everyone as access to the important health care services they need, no matter what.”
Rodriguez studied industrial engineering at the University of Puerto Rico.
Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (PPSLRSWMO) has provided high quality, supportive health care in the region since 1932. PPSLRSWMO is the area leader in sexual and reproductive health care, providing contraception, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, education, and other services to tens of thousands of women, men, and young people each year. Patients can make appointments online or by phone at 1-800-230-PLAN (7526).
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