LABBN’s Longtime Executive Director Retires
Capping a long and inspiring career, LA Best Babies Network’s Executive Director Dr. Margaret Lynn Yonekura retired at the end of 2022.
Dr. Yonekura — known affectionately as Dr. Y to many — became LABBN’s Executive Director in 2009. Before that, she was Senior Advisor to LABBN and served on its Advisory Board from 2002 to 2005. As the Director of Community Health at California Hospital Medical Center for three decades, Dr. Yonekura brought LABBN to California Hospital (where it is still located), and helped launch the pilot of the Welcome Baby program there. She then oversaw the expansion of Welcome Baby to 13 other hospitals in L.A. County, and helped build the Family Strengthening Network, a First 5 LA-funded partnership of 14 Welcome Baby hospitals and over two dozen community-based organizations that provide free home visiting services to families throughout L.A. County.
“LABBN has grown beyond my wildest dreams,” Dr. Yonekura said. “From a vehicle of community education about relevant MCH issues to what it is today — the main hub for training, data analysis and management, and communications and community outreach for LA County’s home visiting programs.” Not content to stop there, she added: “And eventually for other counties in SoCal!”
Under Dr. Y’s leadership, LABBN launched several initiatives to expand LABBN’s role and impact in Los Angeles County, including the Los Angeles County Perinatal and Early Childhood Home Visitation Consortium and its annual Home Visiting Day celebration.
“I’m honored that we are able to carry out Dr. Yonekura’s vision and dream of serving families and pregnant and parenting people in Los Angeles County,” said LABBN Director Sharlene Gozalians. “The ripple effect of her work is immeasurable, and I’m so glad we’re here to witness it and play a part in it. On a personal note, working with Dr. Yonekura has been an absolute joy, and having her as a mentor has been an amazing journey. I will miss our conversations, brainstorming sessions, stories, and her thoughtful partnership!”
Dr. Yonekura’s impact goes far beyond LABBN. As Director of Community Health for California Hospital Medical Center, she has also served as the Executive Director of the hospital’s Hope Street Margolis Family Center. Two decades ago, Dr. Yonekura established Options for Recovery: Harbor-South Bay, a comprehensive treatment program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for pregnant and parenting women with a substance use disorder. Dr. Yonekura also served on the Los Angeles County Women’s Health Policy Council, the Board of Trustees of Pomona College, and the Good Hope Medical Foundation.
A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Yonekura was an Associate Professor of Clinical OB-GYN from 1980-86 and was the chief of obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center from 1986-1992. She also taught OB-GYN residents and Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellows at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Yonekura received numerous awards for her leadership and service to the community. She has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels. Some of her most recent recognitions include the 2019 Maternal Mental Health Champion Award, The L.A. Trust Champion Award, and the Housing Works Systems Changer Award. (See her full interview with Housing Works here.)
All of us at LABBN are thankful for her unflagging support and inspiring leadership over the years. We will miss her dearly, but we wish her a wonderful retirement. Thank you for everything, Dr. Y!
