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As a physician in Colombia, Galo Rodriguez delivered more than 200 babies over a decade spent in family medicine.
But when he arrived in the United States, Rodriguez decided he could have more impact in the field of public health. He now serves as CEO of The Village for Families & Children, a major nonprofit provider of behavioral health and other services in Hartford.
“My desire was to continue my career in human services in a way that I can improve people’s lives in general,” Rodriguez said.
He said he was especially motivated by his encounters with Latino residents in and around Hartford, where he saw generations challenged by issues of poverty, poor health and educational disparities.
“I saw a population that required a lot of services, a lot of education about how to access services and improve their lives for themselves and their children,” Rodriguez said.
The young doctor got acquainted with Hartford’s needs in his first public-health job, at Catholic Charities, where he rose to direct programs in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties. He earned a master’s in public health from UConn in addition to his medical training at the University of Cartagena in Colombia.
Giving credit to guidance of a strong mentor, Rodriguez was named chief operating officer for Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Hartford. Although he had considerable autonomy at the church-run nonprofit, Rodriguez said he was yearning for a larger role in the leadership and direction of an organization. In 2006 he applied to lead The Village, which has been helping Hartford’s neediest children in various incarnations since 1809.
“The Village has had a strong commitment to children and families and a strong staff,” Rodriguez said. “We did have some management issues we had to address.”
By consolidating administrative roles and restructuring programs, he was able to grow the nonprofit’s resources and bolster programs on prevention and early intervention.
Today the nonprofit boasts a workforce of 517 employees, and an annual budget of $44 million.
“We shouldn’t be just treating, we should prevent illness, we should prevent trauma and issues that impact families and children,” Rodriguez said. “We have been able to move The Village to be one of the go-to organizations for children as well as adults for services in mental health.”
The Village is now focusing on integrating its strengths in behavioral health services with primary care providers, aided by a collaboration with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Under a new protocol, when children visit their doctors for physical issues like obesity or asthma, they will also get screenings for developmental and behavioral issues.
“We’re looking at more strategic partnerships with other healthcare providers,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez also seeks to make a difference as part of the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council, in addition to serving on the boards of the CT Council of Family Services Agencies, Connecticut Association of Human Services and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Company: The Village for Families & Children, Inc.
Title: President & CEO
Size of organization: $44 million
Education: University of Cartagena, MD; University of Connecticut, MPH
Guiding business principle: To exceed client expectations with our unwavering dedication to services and community connections.
Best way to keep your competitive edge: Never lose sight of who The Village helps. I wake up every day knowing that there are children enduring emotional trauma, families in crisis and parents desperate for a better life.
Best business decision: Establish measurable outcomes, invest in evidence-based programs and never stop innovating.
Worst business decision: Hiring the wrong team member.
Goal yet to be achieved: The bifurcation of our healthcare system between behavioral health and primary care must end. The Village is helping to advance a more integrated model, but there’s more work to do.
Personal touch in your office: Personal and business-related memorabilia and photographs
City of residence: West Hartford
Favorite way to relax: Listening to music, reading and gardening
Hobbies: exploring new cuisines and recipes
Last vacation: Los Cabos, Mexico
Favorite movie: “The Godfather”
The car you drive: Ford Explorer
Currently reading: “The Speed of Truth”
Favorite cause: Improving the lives of children and families
Second choice career: Architect
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The Hartford Business Journal 2025 Charity Event Guide is the annual resource publication highlighting the top charity events in 2025.
Hartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
Delivering vital marketplace content and context to senior decision-makers throughout Connecticut ...
All Year Long!
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