Prevent Blindness announces leadership promotions

(Image credit: ©Allistair/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

Prevent Blindness has promoted five leaders to further its efforts and support its mission.¹

Jeff Todd, the company’s president and CEO, said the promotions are part of Prevent Blindness’s five-year strategic plan. “…I am thrilled to recognize the long-term contributions of these members of our team by elevating their leadership roles as we continue our sight-saving mission and build on our reputation as a trusted partner for eye health,” Todd said.

The individuals promoted have a combined total of more than 90 years of service to Prevent Blindness.¹

Serving in the newly created role of executive vice president is Kira Baldonado, MPH. Baldonado has been with Prevent Blindness since 2003. During her tenure, she has served as the director of marketing and community services at Prevent Blindness Ohio, director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness and vice president of public health and policy. In her new role, Baldonado will “drive the organization’s mission forward, expanding the program and policy engagements, guiding development of strategic partnerships, and promoting organizational growth,” according to the company’s press release.

Sarah R. Hecker is now the vice president of marketing. Hecker has been with Prevent Blindness since 2004 and has led the company’s branding, marketing and communication initiatives. In her new role, she will expand on these efforts, increasing brand awareness through national initiatives.

Leading the organization’s digital communications strategy and web presence, Ken West is stepping into the role of vice president of digital content. Collaborating with the program, marketing and development teams, West is tasked with overseeing Prevent Blindness’s main website and the company’s specialized vision loss resource, Living Well With Low Vision.

Joining the company in 2017, Sara D. Brown, MPA, has been promoted to senior director of government affairs. Through her work, Brown has grown the organization’s presence on Capitol Hill and in the Administration “in pursuit of Prevent Blindness public policy goals to strengthen Congressional appropriations in federal vision and eye health programs and improve access and coverage policies for eye patients,” according to a press release. She will continue to lead the organization’s advocacy efforts, including the passage of the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act (EDVI Act) and strengthening the Congressional Vision Caucus, the release said.

Nita P. Sinha, MPH, is now the senior director of public health. Sinha started with Prevent Blindness in 2009 as the director of public health and in her new role as senior director plans to “enhance and elevate her work around professional and public education in vision and eye health.” In addition to her education and awareness efforts, Sinha staffs the Scientific Committee, Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee, as well as The Glaucoma Community Expert Advisory Committee.

“We find ourselves in challenging times for eye health and healthcare more broadly, but also amid an unprecedented era of revolutionary innovation in eye care,” Todd said in the release.

Reference

1. Prevent Blindness Announces Leadership Promotions - Prevent Blindness. Prevent Blindness. Published April 9, 2025. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://preventblindness.org/prevent-blindness-leadership-promotions/