David Brinkman, M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer & President, joined DAP Health in 2006. David has led the organization through a period of unprecedented expansion, increasing the number of people served, diversity and volume of services, number of volunteers and donors, and size of the budget by 500%. Under his leadership, DAP Health established a dental clinic, a permanent supportive housing community, 3 primary care clinics, a wellness center, a behavioral health clinic, a department of Community Health, and a vocational program as well as achieved Federally Qualified Health Center status.

During his tenure, DAP Health was named one of the “Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities” by About.com, for the high percentage of funding spent on programs vs. overhead, fundraising efforts (raising $100 for every $15 spent), and financial transparency. In addition, Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, awarded DAP Health “four-star status” for 10 consecutive years. This is an achievement reached by only 5% of all nonprofits they rank.

Mr. Brinkman has served the not-for-profit community for over 25 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College and a Master of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis in Ethical Business Management, from Pepperdine University. He is also a Specialist in Planned Giving certified by the American Institute for Philanthropic Studies.

He was twice invited by the White House Office on AIDS to present on the work of DAP Health and the success of Get Tested Coachella Valley. Mr. Brinkman services on the Board of Directors of UCR School of Medicine, National AIDS Housing Coalition and is a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He also is a prominent voice for community-based organizations, the local LGBTQ community, and a leading advocate at State and Federal levels.

Carol Wood joined the Desert AIDS Project in July 2017, accepting the newly created position, Director of Clinical Administration. Carol brings over 40 years of healthcare experience having served in various executive leadership including acute care, skilled nursing, home health, hospice, and graduate medical education.

Prior to starting with D.A.P., Carol served as Director of Operations for Graduate Medical Education at Hemet Valley Medical Center. She has previously held positions as Chief Administrative Officer at KPC Global Management, Chief Operating Officer at Inland Empire Home Health & Hospice, President/CEO at Ramona VNA & Hospice, SNF Administrator at Hemet Valley Healthcare Center and Ramona Manor Convalescent Hospital, Utilization Management Supervisor at Partnership HealthPlan of California, Administrator at IME Services, as well as various supervisory and management positions on inpatient units at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital.

Ms. Wood has been a Registered Nurse since 1977 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of La Verne in 1983. She is a licensed California Nursing Home Administrator, Certified Forensic Nurse, and Certified Hospice Administrator. Ms. Wood has also served as an expert witness for the Board of Registered Nursing since 2000.

Zayda Welden started her career at DAP Health as a Case Manager 21 years ago. She is a native of Quito-Ecuador where she completed her studies in Clinical Psychology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. She’s also bilingual (Spanish) and multicultural, an asset at DAP Health. Zayda has had the opportunity of seeing the face of HIV and AIDS change significantly during the last 25 years through her direct work with people living with HIV and AIDS.