Camarena Health CEO Paulo Soares, contributed photo

Camarena Health announced last week the election of CEO Paulo Soares as the new board chair of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA).

The CPCA represents more than 1,300 not-for-profit community health centers and regional clinic associations that provide health care services to low-income, uninsured and underserved California residents.

“It is an honor to be nominated and elected by my peers and colleagues from all over the state of California,” Soares said in a news release. “I look forward to the ongoing collaboration with my colleagues and with the team at CPCA to continue our tireless advocacy and efforts to shape the future landscape of healthcare in California in order to better serve our communities.”

The organization has 30 voting directors who comprise its board of directors.

Board members are elected by the organization’s members-at-large during their annual conference in October.

Working alongside the CPCA’s leadership, the board aims to advocate and represent thousands of community health centers — like Camarena Health — throughout California.

Soares has been CEO of Camarena Health for the past 12 years, overseeing the expansion of care to Madera County by building state-of-the-art facilities to improve overall community health.

Soares is also involved with boards and organizations including CA Health Plus Advocates, Central Valley Health Network, Advocates for Community Health, California Partnership for Health, Cal Viva Health and CASA Fresno and Madera Counties.