Carlos Plazas
Board Member
President & CEO, La Clínica del Pueblo
Serves as the Chief Executive Officer of La Clínica del Pueblo, a Federally Qualified Health Clinic dedicated to serving the Latino community and all who live in the Washington, DC area. An accomplished healthcare leader with expertise in operations and fiscal management, Carlos specializes in strategic planning and execution, ensuring success in community health through impactful clinical and financial initiatives.
Carlos holds a Master’s in Science and Business Administration from Towson University and previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at La Clínica del Pueblo. With nearly two decades of leadership experience in nonprofit healthcare—including roles as Vice President of Finance and later as Chief Operating Officer at Planned Parenthood Maryland (PPM) —Carlos has a proven track record in financial and operational leadership. Recognized as Best CFO by the Baltimore Business Journal in 2015, he developed a management training program that increased annual visits at PPM from 35,000 to 50,000 and doubled patient revenue.
Carlos leads with a deep conviction that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. His advocacy efforts were instrumental in the passage of groundbreaking Maryland legislation requiring the state to fully fund Title X if federal restrictions were to limit funding, ensuring the sustainability of a critical program for many families. Before his tenure at Planned Parenthood Maryland, Carlos served as Director of Finance at Chase Brexton, a Maryland Federally Qualified Health Center serving 40,000 patients annually.
Carlos believes that leadership success is rooted in empowering and motivating teams. Recognized for his commitment to enhancing both patient and employee experience, Carlos is dedicated to improving processes and fostering a collaborative workplace.
As volunteer treasurer for the Southeast Community Development Corporation (SECDC), Carlos supports homeownership and neighborhood revitalization for Latino and African American families. He also served on the board of IPAS, an international reproductive health organization, where he advocated for millions in funding for Latin American health programs.
Carlos is a proud Colombian immigrant who brings a multicultural perspective to his work. In his free time, Carlos enjoys cooking, watching fútbol, playing the guitar, and spending time with his two daughters.