Long recognized as Children’s Health Fund’s “third founder”, Karen Redlener was recruited by co-founders Irwin Redlener and Paul Simon to operationalize the mission of the organization, including the challenge of designing what has become Children’s Health Fund’s signature mobile pediatric clinic. This first fully self-contained clinic on wheels was in service for more than two decades and was the prototype that spawned a fleet of more than 50 CHF mobile clinics operating in disadvantaged urban and rural clinics throughout the U.S.

Karen also provides major leadership on Children’s Health Fund’s newest initiative, Healthy and Ready to Learn, a program designed to ensure that disadvantaged children are not hampered by health conditions that are known to interfere with learning

Since 2004, in addition to her leadership roles at CHF, Karen has also served as executive director of Children’s Health Fund’s nationally recognized NY Flagship Program (Community Pediatric Programs) at Montefiore Health System.  In this role she has had oversight responsibility for the development of the New York Children’s Health Project, a mobile program that focuses on homeless kids and families, and the community-based South Bronx Health Center and its unique Center for Child Health and Resiliency.

Prior to her work establishing and overseeing Children’s Health Fund’s New York’s programs, Karen’s career included work in the Head Start programs, field experience developing and overseeing social services at a VISTA clinic in East Arkansas and managing special programs at the Mailman Child Development Center in Miami, Florida.

Karen is a founding board member of the Children’s Health Fund. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Pomona College and holds a Master’s of Science in Health Management and Policy from the New School University.