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.