Sara L. Semal

Sara L. Semal is the Chief Wellness Officer at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Sara has previously served as the Chief Wellness Officer and Senior Director of Student Wellness at Occidental College from January 2014 to December 2021. During their time at Occidental College, they were responsible for managing the oversight of COVID-19 health and safety planning and response for the college, including developing extensive guidelines for all campus activities and a comprehensive plan for testing, treatment, isolation/quarantine, and return to work and congregate living. Sara also worked with senior administration, the board of trustees, external consultants, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, and the California Department of Health and Human Services on COVID-19 planning and response. In addition, they oversaw public health policy and protocols for the college community at large.

Directing and managing the Emmons Wellness Center, which offers primary care and counseling services to students as well as workers comp to employees, was another one of Sara's initiatives during their time at Occidental College. Sara also created Project SAFE, which provides sexual assault advocacy, prevention and education for the college community. Furthermore, they implemented an insurance waiver system allowing students to opt-out of the school’s insurance and utilize the student’s pre-existing insurance provided by their family. This led to the development of an insurance billing system customized to the college’s waiver and college-sponsored insurance, creating a revenue stream of $400,000 per year. Sara also created a grant program providing at-need students full insurance coverage, utilizing revenue from insurance billing. Lastly, they managed a 3 year, $300,000 OVW grant for sexual assault prevention and education, stretching funding to five years and institutionalizing the program past the grant conclusion.

Sara has also provided training and consultation to staff and faculty on medical, mental health and public health issues affecting their students and the community. Sara has lectured classes on public health and mental health as invited by faculty. In addition, they have advised student groups and provided oversight on their development and implementation of community health programs.

Sara L. Semal is currently a DrPH candidate in Public Health at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Sara was previously a Fellow in Advanced Psychodynamic Clinical Practice at the University of Chicago and holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from New York University. Sara also has an MPH in Political Science and Spanish from The George Washington University and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish from St. Bonaventure University.

Their manager is Paul S. Viviano, President & Chief Executive Officer. They work with Robert Adler - Chief Medical Director, CHLA Health System, M. Scott Lieberenz - Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, and Mark Krieger - Senior Vice President & Surgeon-in-Chief, Department of Surgery.