Brenda Schmitthenner

In her role as  program officer of successful aging at the Gary and Mary West Foundation, Brenda Schmitthenner, MPA brings more than 30 years of experience to advance the Foundation’s mission to lower the cost of healthcare to enable seniors to age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence.

Schmitthenner has extensive knowledge and experience with older adults and persons with disabilities in healthcare and community settings, and a proven track record—both locally and nationally—of outstanding leadership, program development and implementation. She most recently served as the aging program administrator for Aging and Independence Services (AIS) for the County of San Diego, where she spent more than 15 years working with some of the most innovative leaders in the county committed to ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all San Diegans. She also brings extensive experience as a policy advisor for national, statewide and local system integration and improved care coordination initiatives, and over 20 years of practice as a Geriatric Case Manager, Hospice and Skilled Nursing Facility Social Worker.

Schmitthenner holds an M.P.A. from National University and earned her B.A from Pennsylvania State University.