Spotlight on the Staff: Irene Ramos

Irene is a Data Manager with the Welcome Baby program at St. Mary Medical Center, where she helps support a team dedicated to improving the health and well-being of parents and babies. But her connection to Welcome Baby goes beyond her professional role, as she was once a participant herself.

Growing up in an immigrant family, Irene witnessed how systemic and institutional barriers, including limited access to healthcare and social support, could affect families’ daily lives. “I grew up understanding that everyone deserves the help, education, resources and support necessary to thrive,” she shared.

While working toward her bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Irene explored different organizations and roles focused on supporting children and families. It was during a breastfeeding class at California State University, Northridge, that she first learned about Welcome Baby.

“The program resonated with me deeply, particularly the recognition that individuals’ decisions are shaped by systems that often lack adequate support for women and families,” she said.

Irene said participating in Welcome Baby was the best decision she made as a first-time parent:”The education and guidance I received built my confidence as both a parent and an advocate for my child.” With the support and encouragement of her Welcome Baby Registered Nurse, Irene was able to overcome early latching challenges and go on to exclusively breastfeed both of her children.

Irene began her work in the community in 2014 as a home visitor. In that role, she provided health education, case management support, and resources to families. She later joined Early Head Start, where she worked directly with pregnant women, infants, and children. “My experience and work ultimately led me to my current role at Welcome Baby,” Irene said.

She joined the Welcome Baby team at St. Mary in 2023. While her work may take place behind the scenes, Irene plays an important part in helping ensure the program continues to provide consistent, high-quality support to families.

“I love having the opportunity to be part of a program so deeply dedicated to supporting mothers and infants during one of the most vulnerable and transformative periods of their lives,” she shared.

For Irene, being part of a team so committed to mothers and babies is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work, “I want to highlight my team, as their hard work is the reason we remain on track and have significantly improved our performance,” Irene said. “Their dedication is truly what makes the Welcome Baby program at St. Mary such an excellent program for mothers and babies, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

This year also brought an important personal accomplishment for Irene: she earned her master’s degree in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Informatics. The achievement is especially meaningful because Irene is the first person in her family to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.

Thank you, Irene, for your passion, leadership, and commitment to supporting L.A. County’s youngest residents and their families. And congratulations on your incredible educational achievement!

Watch the video below from Home Visiting Day 2024 to hear Irene share more about her work, and scroll down for heartfelt words from her peers.

“Irene’s dedication to the Welcome Baby program is truly exceptional. She consistently goes above and beyond the expectations of her role, not only ensuring that our data is accurate and meaningful, but using that data to think strategically about how we can continuously improve the experience and outcomes of the families we serve. She has an incredible ability to look at the micro-level details, every number, trend, and piece of information she captures and step back to understand the bigger picture. She asks thoughtful questions, identifies opportunities, and genuinely thinks about how our data can translate into better services and a better quality of life for the new moms and families we serve. We are so lucky to have Irene on our team. This past year, she earned her master’s degree while being an amazing mom to her two daughters and continuing to pour so much into our program. Even more meaningfully, Irene is herself a former participant of the Welcome Baby program, which makes her perspective and commitment even more special.”
— Sara Halili, Clinical Supervisor, St. Mary Medical Center – Families in Good Health (FiGH)

“Over her three years with St. Mary, Irene has strengthened our Welcome Baby program by pairing her data evaluation skills with an exceptionally supportive, team-oriented leadership style. She is precise, persistent, patient, creative, and kind. When Irene stepped into this position, it had been vacant for over a year, and she had limited information about the previous data practices. Irene quickly assessed the situation and spent her first year revamping our tracking systems and how we communicate data to the team while also streamlining inventory and supply processes. She has built on this excellent work each year, resulting in our team’s increased efficiency and readiness for new challenges. Irene’s unique personal dedication is rooted in her own journey as a mother and former Welcome Baby client. This dedication is clearly reflected in the way Irene is integrated into all parts of the program, whether joining our Outreach Specialist at an event, listening to the stories of families in group reflective, or providing translation for an RN visit. Irene truly embodies the heart, dedication, and operational excellence that define this network and its impact on LA County.”
— Michelle Brannon, Program Manager, St. Mary Medical Center – Families in Good Health (FiGH)

Find a Home Visiting Program in L.A. County

• Do you know someone in L.A. County who is pregnant or who recently had a baby? They can find a free in-home support program at eDirectory.HomeVisitingLA.org.
• See a list of hospitals that offer the Welcome Baby program.

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