Dina Matos

Executive Director
dina@caresfoundation.org
Dina Matos joined CARES Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of individuals affected by congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) worldwide, as Executive Director in 2009. CAH is a group of inherited disorders that affects the adrenal glands. In its severest form, it is a life-threatening disorder.

During her tenure, CARES completed its first strategic planning initiative, updated its website to better serve patients across the globe, published guidelines for the development of centers of excellence for congenital adrenal hyperplasia and designated four centers of excellence across the United States. Raising awareness of CAH has also been one of her top priorities and therefore, under her leadership, CARES initiated awareness walks across the country.

Her work in the health care industry spans more than two decades and includes serving as Executive Director of the Columbus Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Columbus Hospital) in Newark, NJ from November, 1999 through May, 2008. Before joining the Foundation, she held various positions at Columbus Hospital including Director of Public Relations and Marketing and Director of Patient and Public Relations.

Throughout her career, Ms. Matos has incorporated health and wellness programs into all of her community outreach efforts with the many organizations for which she has worked or volunteered. At Columbus Hospital, she developed the Senior Health Improvement Program (S.H.I.P.), a free health and wellness program for adults 55 and over. The program was aimed at helping seniors stay healthy and informed about health care issues through screenings and educational programs.

Prior to joining Columbus Hospital, she served in a number of roles at Saint James Hospital also in Newark, including Coordinator of Community Relations and Manager of Public and Professional Relations. During her tenure at Saint James she developed a senior membership program, a general services tri-lingual newsletter, a tri-lingual newsletter for expectant mothers, and a patient satisfaction program.

Dina Matos’ interest in health care extends beyond her professional career. She has volunteered with many health care organizations and institutions, often in a leadership capacity including: trustee of the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, trustee of the Ironbound Boys’ and Girls’ Club and Senior Center, member of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s (CINJ) Leadership Council, spokesperson for the March of Dimes’ Prematurity Campaign, trustee of D.A.R.E, and Vice President of the Portuguese American Congress of New Jersey. Ms. Matos has served as spokesperson and volunteer for the following organizations/campaigns: National Poison Prevention Week, Bernard W. Gimble Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center, Women’s Heart Foundation, and C.J. Foundation for SIDS. Her other interests include children and senior services, education, literacy and under-privileged populations. Dina’s involvement in these areas includes serving as an advocate and spokesperson for: Verizon’s “New Jersey Reads” program, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street’s “New Beginnings”, Governor’s Book Club, One Book New Jersey, Abbot Preschool Program, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Special Olympics, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Teach for America.

Ms. Matos has also served as Commissioner of the Planning Board of the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Treasurer of the Portuguese American Scholarship Foundation, member of the Northern New Jersey Maternal/Child Health Consortium’s planning committee, and a member of the New Jersey Health Care Public Relations and Marketing Association.

Dina Matos has received numerous awards and recognitions, including: City of Hope “Woman of the Year”, Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s “Award of Hope”, Portuguese American Women’s Association’s “Outstanding Public Service” and the Boy Scouts of America’s “Hispanic Good Scout”.

Ms. Matos was raised in Newark, New Jersey. She attended Wilson Avenue School, East Side High School and Rutgers University where she majored in Political Science She is a fellow of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson Project Leadership Class of 1999. Ms. Matos lives in New Jersey with her daughter.

Karen Lin Su, M.D.
Medical Director
To contact Dr. Su, please use our secure “Ask the Expert” service.

Dr. Su is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Co-Medical Director of the Comprehensive Care Center for CAH at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She is also the Associate Program Director of the pediatric endocrinology fellowship program at Weill Cornell. She was born and raised in Texas, graduated cum laude with honors in psychology (biological track) from Yale University and then went on to obtain her medical degree at Cornell University Medical College. She completed both her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell. She has published extensively in the field of CAH and has devoted her career to advancing the understanding of CAH and improving the treatment and quality of life for individuals and families affected by CAH. She is honored to have served as the Medical Director of CARES since 2010.

Bea Pereira
Director of Finance & Operations
bea@caresfoundation.org

 Bea Pereira is the youngest of three children born to her parents, Teresa and Manny, who immigrated to New Jersey from Spain. Bea, along with her brothers, completed her education in New Jersey, working at her own pace and graduating from Science High School. She received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award Scholarship to Rutgers University from former New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman.
In college, Bea was initially drawn to science, particularly laboratory research. She worked on numerous research projects and was a science mentor for NIH. However, Bea was also highly interested in business and made the decision to double major in Economics and Business Administration. This led towards her 13-year career in the procurement field. Bea engaged and trained buyers during eight business start-ups as well as managed the forecasting of the purchasing budget for a revolving $120 million account.
While raising her two children, Sarah and Dean, Bea made a decision to devote the next two years pursuing a Master of Science from the Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University. When it came time to prepare for exams, it was years of independent study that Bea claims helped her keep her focus. She accomplished most of her studying at night and on weekends. She juggled being a mom and her full-time Senior Manager career with being a full time graduate student. She viewed this time as an opportunity to get better at her profession, more well-rounded, not just learning skills to pass a test.
Bea has always been intrigued by work in non-profits leading her to her current role as Director of Finance & Operations at CARES Foundation. Bea enjoys the idea of giving back to the community and thought her talents and experience in a non-profit position would be a good match for her. Bea has a passion to making the world a better place and is excited to support CARES Foundation in their mission to improve the lives of people worldwide impacted by CAH.

Odaly Roche
Program Coordinator
odaly@caresfoundation.org

Odaly has been with CARES since 2008.  She previously worked for the city of Newark in the Division of Victim and Witness Advocacy.  Odaly attended Bloomfield Vo-Tech and graduated from Gibbs College.

John Morgan
Communications Coordinator
john@caresfoundation.org

John graduated from Quinnipiac University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism. While attending Quinnipiac University, he was the president of his Fraternity and served as the VP for Fraternal Standards on the school’s Interfraternity Council. John has worked with a variety of non-profit organizations on his campus, setting up advocacy events and fundraising opportunities at Quinnipiac.  

Courtney Clarke
Administrative Assistant
courtney@caresfoundation.org

Courtney just recently graduated from Iona University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. While attending Iona University she was a member of the Finance Club and the president of Iona University Pipe Band.  

CONTACT

2414 Morris Avenue, Ste 110
Union, NJ 07083

Phone: (908) 364-0272

Toll Free: (866) 227-3737

Fax: (908) 686-2019
contact@caresfoundation.org

Staff Directory

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