Local Women Honored By SD METRO

Lori Keim, a 34-year-old South Park resident who works as the senior director of patient services for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, was honored Sept. 13 as one of SD METRO Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Award winners. The awards honor young business and civic leaders who are helping shape the region’s future. (SD METRO is the sister publication of the North Park News.)
Also honored with a 40 Under 40 Award was Kyla Winters, 39, of Hillcrest, who is the chief development officer for the Alpha Project for the Homeless.
As senior director of patient services for Planned Parenthood, Keim has been key in implementing agency migration to an electronic medical records system to better serve the organization’s 150,000 patients (through nearly 300,000 visits in 2010) seeking lifesaving cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and contraception.
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest operates 19 health centers in San Diego and Riverside counties. Keim was a driving force in securing a grant that enabled Planned Parenthood to provide low-cost Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, to women 19-26, as well as introducing several innovative concepts in making contraception more available.
Keim is a widely respected and admired leader who has inspired her staff and colleagues. She has served as the fundraising chair of the Stella Nova Dance Company and is a member of both the Medical Group Management Association and American Public Health Association.
Though she is active in the San Diego community, Keim also instructed conversational English and promoted healthy lifestyles to students in the Czech Republic. Keim began her career providing in-home medication, referrals and case management services to adolescent females on probation.
As the chief development officer for the Alpha Project, one of San Diego’s most well-known social services nonprofit organizations, Winters oversees policy issues, fundraising, public relations, marketing and grants. She has been with Alpha for over 13 years, spearheading such projects as the Hospice for the Homeless Program.
In August 2009, Winters became ill with bacterial meningitis and spent four months in hospitals fighting kidney failure, respiratory failure, multiple cardiac arrests and eventually quadruple amputations. Less than two years later she is walking on prosthetics and is more committed than ever to her agency, causes and community.
Winters has recently started working with Sharp Healthcare Foundation on its INSPIRE campaign, where she is focusing on garnering support for oncology, rehabilitation and organ transplant programs. She was honored by Sharp Hospital with the 2011 Victories of Spirit Award for her remarkable rehabilitation and ongoing community service.
Winters offers outreach for recent amputees at Sharp Rehabilitation Hospital, is active with homeless outreach and assists with the annual winter shelter for the homeless. She was involved with the San Diego Women’s Foundation for many years and has served on its board of directors.