LUISA BUADA'S LEGACY - Ravenswood Family Health Network

This year, Luisa steps down as Ravenswood’s CEO.

Luisa has been an advocate for accessible and affordable health care for all who need it for 50 years.

In Luisa’s early life, she worked for the United Farm Workers, alongside Cesar Chavez. Her eyes were opened to the harsh inequities and injustices within healthcare.

At the age of 25, Luisa embarked on a career as a public health nurse. She became Executive Director of Clinicas de Salud in the Salinas Valley, resulting in numerous requests from clinics nationwide seeking guidance in enhancing their operations. She was a founder of the Berkeley Primary Care Access Clinic, Lifelong Medical Care in Berkeley, and Ravenswood Family Health Network

In 2001, she served as a consultant in the creation of the Ravenswood Family Health Center. She later became its Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for 12 months, and was appointed as the permanent CEO in November 2003. While working with diverse community stakeholders, she forged the community vision of a permanent health facility, shepherding the construction of a health clinic campus in East Palo Alto.

Under Luisa’s leadership, the clinic expanded its footprint to Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale in 2020, providing essential healthcare services to the most vulnerable populations. Luisa is a true healthcare hero. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide our health network in the years to come.

Although she is retiring as the Chief Executive Officer of Ravenswood Family Health Network on December 15, 2023, she won’t be far as she will take on a new role as the Capitol Director of Ravenswood.