Robert Contreras (he/el), President & CEO

Robert Contreras has worked for Bienestar Human Services (BIENESTAR) since 1991. He currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer and is fully fluent in Spanish and English. During his tenure at BIENESTAR, he has held several leadership positions such as Program Director, Human Resources Manager, and Director of Finance and Administration. He oversees all operations and programs of the agency.

Oscar De La O (he/el), Vice-President odelao@bienestar.org

Oscar De La O is a founding member and served as President/CEO of Bienestar Human Services from 1989 to 2019. Oscar has been an advocate for Latinos affected by HIV and AIDS for over 38 years. His community involvement represents over forty years of service and advocacy on behalf of the community, including the LGBT and immigrant communities around issues of access to health care, social justice and human rights. His love for and dedication to the community came from his mother who instilled in him the need to serve others to have a fulfilling and rewarding life. Oscar makes it a priority to hold true to his “grassroots” identity in his community work and interactions. He firmly believes that empowerment and the full and active participation of all segments of the community are key factors in achieving positive health outcomes and wellbeing.

Since 2020, Oscar De La O serves as Vice-President of Bienestar Human Services and is involved with many community organizations and has served on the boards of the Mexican-American Political Association, National Minority AIDS Council, Latinos Unidos, the Children’s Leukemia Society of Ensenada, Mexico, Hate Violence Prevention Partnership, and the National Latinx/Hispanic HIV, STI and Hepatitis C Working Group.

Oscar and Bienestar have received numerous recognitions and awards for their many years of community services. These acknowledgements are recognition of the organization’s values and commitment to the Latino community. Oscar always acknowledges Bienestar’s past and present employees and volunteers who have contributed to the organization’s legacy.

Oscar De La O sees his future wherever opportunities are available to promote and create change toward a healthier society, one founded upon principles of access to health, social and economic empowerment, and democratic justice.

Brendan O’Connell (he/el), MSW, Chief Operating Officer, boconnell@bienestar.org

Brendan O’Connell is the Chief Operation Officer at Bienestar Human Services. Brendan oversees BIENESTAR’s Behavioral Health Services comprised of outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment; Prevention Services which includes HIV/HCV/STI screening, linkage to medical care, behavioral interventions, food bank, HOPWA and Harm Reduction. Before joining BIENESTAR, Brendan worked in NYC with PLWH, the LGBTQ communities, and formerly incarcerated people, at ACRIA (AIDS Community Research Initiative of America) The Fortune Society and the Center for Community Alternatives. In 2007 he graduated from the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin with a Bachelors of Social Work. In 2012 he completed his Masters of Social Work from Fordham University.

John Hernandez (he/him), Contracts and Grants Administrator, jhernandez@bienestar.org

John Hernandez serves as the Contracts and Grants Administrator for Bienestar Human Services. He has previous experience from a small consulting firm, working with CDBG-funded non-profits in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, communicating with key individuals and ensuring compliance with grants. He seeks to give back to his community and believes in helping others and treating them with respect and kindness.

John enjoys reading and writing in his spare time.

Esmeralda Gasca (she/ella), Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services, egasca@bienestar.org

Esmeralda is a tax accountant professional and has been working with Bienestar since 2013. She graduated cum laude from Cal State L.A. with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Computer Information Systems and a minor in Economics and French in 2001. She then went on to finish her master’s degree in Taxation in 2008. She has worked for many industries but has found a home in the non-profit sector. She finds it interesting and challenging, but above all enjoys working with numbers and budgets. She has been married for 14 years and is a mother of two wonderful children. In her spare time, she loves staying home and watching movies with the family, reading, and doing puzzles.

Linda Pacheco (she/ella), Human Resources, lpacheco@bienestar.org

Linda Pacheco attended CSULB, majoring in Criminal Justice. Her first experience working in Human Resources was at a non-profit whose mission was to empower low-income, immigrant, and at-risk youth to overcome barriers to success by providing education, employment, and social service programs. She has experienced working in other industries; however, she enjoys working for the non-profit industry the most, supporting the effort to make a difference in our community.

Tino Piñon (he/him/his/el), Public Relations, tpinon@bienestar.org

For media requests please contact Tino Piñon.

Michael Borookhim, MD (He/Him), Chief Medical Officer, mborookhim@bienestar.org

Eric De La Cruz (He/Him), Clinic Manager, edelacruz@bienestar.org

With over 20 years of experience in the medical field, I am passionate about helping others and advocating for patients. As a Clinic Manager, Eric enjoys fostering a positive work environment and supporting a strong, collaborative team. He is a positive person who believes in making a meaningful change in healthcare and creating spaces where both patients and staff feel valued and empowered.

Brendan O’Connell (he/el), MSW, Chief Operating Officer, boconnell@bienestar.org

Ronald A. Brooks (he/el), Ph.D., Interim Director, rbrooks@bienestar.org

Joanna Barreras (she/ella), MSW, Ph.D., Associate Program Director, jbarreras@bienestar.org

Dr. Joanna Barreras is the Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at Bienestar Human Services, Inc. Her scholarly work focuses on addressing comorbidities and disparities linked to HIV among Latinx—as health inequities continue to affect Latinx communities. Specifically, she aims to develop and test culturally responsive interventions to improve health care service utilization among vulnerable populations. As a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in East Los Angeles, CA, a predominantly Latinx community, Dr. Barreras witnessed the lack of health care access and utilization at the individual and community levels. These personal experiences drive her passion to generate knowledge that examines and seeks to address these gaps. Dr. Barreras draws upon over a decade of research experience on Latinx health and mental health disparities, eight of which include research with the sexual and gender diverse communities and HIV prevention and intervention. She has contributed to several community-based initiatives and professional undertakings that address the needs of disenfranchised and marginalized groups. Dr. Barreras strives to continue promoting science and the importance of increasing capacity-building on intersectional stigma and discrimination and mistrust around care related to HIV prevention and treatment. Outside of work, Joanna enjoys hiking local trails and watching the sunrise.

Ying-Tung Chen (he/el), MS, Statistical Evaluation Manager, ychen@bienestar.org

Ying-Tung Chen, M.S., is the Statistical Evaluation Manager in the Research and Evaluation Department of Bienestar Human Services in Los Angeles, California. He received a master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For the past twelve years, he has been responsible for providing statistical support for research projects in the areas of study design, data extraction, appropriate statistical analysis and interpretation of results. He also has been analyzing a variety of research and program data, using appropriate statistical methods and computer techniques/software to data analysis. In addition, he has created and maintained statistical and informational databases and prepared summary data for research publications, conference presentations and programs evaluation. Since 2013, he has coauthored eight publications in peer reviewed journals.

Edgar Sanchez (he/him/his/él), Senior Data Management Specialist, sanchez@bienestar.org

Edgar Sanchez (he/él), MPH, is the Senior Data Management Specialist at Bienestar Human Services. He has been with Bienestar since 2018, starting off as a Health Educator in the Harm Reduction Department, where he conducted outreaches and assisted clients in the needle exchange program. He transitioned to the Evaluations and Research Department in the current role he holds. He has reviewed and processed data for over a dozen HIV prevention programs along with HIV and STI testing, as well as monitoring the compliance of the entry of data into the electronic health system used at Bienestar. He is also currently the chair of the Quality Assurance Quality Improvement (QAQI) committee that addresses quality assessment and improvements of the services that Bienestar Human Services provides.