California Planned Parenthood Leaders Take the Fight to National Stage

Two outstanding California Planned Parenthood leaders and a regional affiliate are taking the fight for reproductive justice and quality affordable health care to the national stage after leading three of the most successful affiliates in the country. Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson and Sue Dunlap both received national recognition this week as exceptional leaders of Planned Parenthood affiliates, and the Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley regional affiliate was honored for innovation in providing health care services.

Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, was honored as national Planned Parenthood CEO of the Year. Sue Dunlap, CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, was selected to serve on the national Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) board of directors. Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley (PPPSGV) was honored with the national Health Care Innovation Award.

“Sue and Darrah represent the best of Planned Parenthood,” said Crystal Strait, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC.) “They have demonstrated their fierce determination to fight for women’s health and their commitment to excellence in our health centers. Our Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley affiliate is leading the way on innovation to better serve our patients through education, screening and testing.”

Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson was honored with the Ruth Green Award at the Planned Parenthood annual dinner in Washington, DC on Thursday, April 26. Established in 1981, this national award is given to a Planned Parenthood affiliate chief executive for outstanding leadership. It is one of the highest honors given to Planned Parenthood CEOs for their work in carrying out the mission of Planned Parenthood. Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson has served as CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest (PPPSW) since 2006. Founded in 1963, PPPSW serves more than 150,000 patients every year through 17 health centers in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside Counties.

Sue Dunlap became a member of the national board of directors for PPFA on Saturday, April 28. Board members set policy and approve the budget for national operations. The national board will also be intensely involved in the search for a new national CEO, now that long-time leader Cecile Richards is stepping down.

Sue Dunlap has been involved in women’s health for more than two decades, serving as Deputy Political Director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in Washington DC, and Vice President of PPAC in Sacramento, before becoming CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles(PPLA) in 2011. PPLA serves more than 230,000 patients every year at 19 health centers.

Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley received the Health Care Innovation Award on Thursday, April 26. This award recognizes the HIV Prevention Initiative. This innovative program combined education to high risk communities, the simultaneous rollout of HIV prevention medications PrEP and PEP in all four of their health centers, and implementation of the fourth-generation rapid HIV test. California has the highest rates of new cases of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, and the area served by PPPSGV has some of the highest rates in Los Angeles County.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s seven separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of reproductive and preventive health care, family planning and sexual health education.

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