Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has selected Jonathan Goldfinger as the next CEO of the 78-year-old organization, a national leader in suicide prevention and one of Los Angeles County’s largest nonprofits treating families, youth and adults with mental illness and substance use disorders.

Goldfinger’s selection followed a year-long planning process by the board of directors, which included a nationwide search by Koya Leadership Partners.

“We considered a deep bench of highly qualified and diverse candidates and found Dr. Goldfinger to be uniquely qualified to lead Didi Hirsch successfully into the future because of his background in healthcare policy, clinical innovation, strategic partnerships and technology,” said board Chair Christopher J. Harrer, a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services.

A nationally recognized pediatrician and advocate for the health and wellbeing of children and families, Goldfinger comes to Didi Hirsch from Goldfinger Health, where he advised diverse organizations on behavioral health innovation, business strategy and policy. He also previously served as chief medical officer and vice president of innovation at Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco, which spearheaded efforts to address people suffering from childhood abuse, parental mental illness and discrimination.

Goldfinger currently advises the California Office of the Surgeon General on trauma-informed primary care; the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and First 5 Los Angeles on improving childhood development and behavior services; and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on maternal-infant healthcare quality improvement.

“I am grateful to the board of Didi Hirsch for this exciting opportunity,” Goldfinger said. “Didi Hirsch is a trusted leader in mental health and suicide prevention because their care is fundamentally committed to quality, innovation and inclusion, all things society needs more than ever. Their work erasing stigma and counseling those in crisis has saved countless lives.”

Additionally, Lyn Morris, the organization’s current senior vice president of clinical operations, has been promoted to chief operating officer in recognition of the broader role she will play supporting Goldfinger. Goldfinger succeeds retiring CEO Kita S. Curry, who served Didi Hirsch for 26 years.

For information, visit didihirsch.org.