About Cecilia (pronounced “Sessy”)
Cecilia Oregón is the executive director for Kaiser Permanente’s Institute for Health Policy (IHP) and a member of the faculty at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (SOM). In her role at IHP, Cecilia leads strategy, program, and operations. Her areas of expertise include access to health care for underserved populations, trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), school-based health, and early childhood issues. At the SOM, Cecilia lectures on health policy and hosts student practicums at IHP. Cecilia joined Kaiser Permanente in 2013 as the director of safety net partnerships for National Community Benefit. In her role, Cecilia developed and executed their safety net grant strategy.
Before joining Kaiser Permanente, Cecilia served as a Program Officer for Blue Shield of California Foundation where she managed the portfolio of grants focused on strengthening California’s healthcare safety net. She has also served in program roles with The California Endowment and the California Health Care Foundation. Outside of philanthropy, she has served as a legislative analyst for the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in Washington, D.C. and a special projects consultant with the Alameda County Public Health Department in CA.
She earned her Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, and is an alumnus of the Presidential Management Fellows program. She received a Latino Heritage Leadership Award in 2018 from California Senator Bob Wieckowski for her record of leadership and service.
She is chair of the Alameda County First 5 Commission and sits on the boards of the Insure the Uninsured Project, Northern California Grantmakers and the national School-Based Health Alliance.
Get to know Cecilia
What are your areas of policy expertise?
My current focus is on mental health and wellness including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma. I also focus on early childhood issues, school-based health, and health care for underserved populations.
Tell us about a few of your professional accomplishments.
In 2018, I received a Latino Heritage Leadership Award from California Senator Bob Wieckowski for my record of leadership and service to the Latinx community in California. I am also an alumnus of the Presidential Management Fellowship program and the Grantmakers in Health Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy.
What drives you in health policy?
I have focused my career and many of my board engagements on serving the underserved. Access to health services for children and adolescents has been a particular passion of mine. Having grown up in an underserved area of Los Angeles, I appreciate the extent of the need and am familiar with the barriers that people face when seeking services – especially immigrants and those with language barriers.
Outside of work, what interests you?
I have two great kids that I enjoy cooking for. Honestly, I have always enjoyed cooking and baking, but I admit that I wasn’t very good at it until a few years ago when I decided it was time to follow recipes. That was a brilliant decision, and the kids have been happy with the results.
When we aren’t sheltering in place due to pandemics, smoke, or other natural disasters, I enjoy traveling and seeing live music.