When Kari Cordero’s work phone rings in the middle of the night, she knows someone needs help.
On the other end of the call are details of her next case — someone who needs care after a sexual assault.
Cordero is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Kaiser Permanente. She is also a forensic nurse who leads Napa Solano SANE-SART, a nonprofit that helps people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse.
Under her leadership, SANE-SART has grown to reach more people at critical moments. It has expanded from 1 county to 5 across the San Francisco Bay Area.
Cordero has also launched new programs and partnerships to better help children and survivors of sex trafficking.
In recognition of her commitment to survivors of abuse and the impact of her work, Kaiser Permanente named Cordero the winner of the 2026 George Halvorson Community Health Leadership Award. She is the first nurse to receive this honor.
Caring for people in their hardest moments
Cordero started with SANE-SART nearly 20 years ago as a nurse examiner. Over the years, she took on more responsibility and stepped into a leadership role when she became executive director in 2021.
Even with everything on her plate, her top priority is patients. She often picks up extra shifts when the team is shorthanded, or someone needs a break.
Often, her first encounter with a patient is a forensic exam. This exam helps document what happened and collect evidence. During the exam, Cordero cares for the person’s physical, emotional, and mental health.
“When somebody’s been hurt — when the worst thing has happened to them — I want to make sure they’re not walking through that process alone,” she said. “Trying to navigate it by yourself can be heartbreaking. That’s why having a nurse examiner is so important.”
After an exam, Cordero connects patients to mental health support right away, so they can begin to process what happened.
“Kari’s superpower is that she’s in the trenches with you, even as a director,” said former Kaiser Permanente and SANE-SART nurse Lisa Lewis-Javar, who nominated Cordero for the award. “She doesn’t expect you to do anything she wouldn’t do herself.”
Expanding care to meet community needs
During her time with SANE-SART, the organization has expanded how it supports survivors and families.
In 2015, it brought together different members of the community, including the district attorney, to create a child advocacy center. The center is for children who have experienced or witnessed abuse.
The organization now also offers no-cost mental health therapy through its trauma recovery center.
In 2022, Cordero secured additional funding to start a program for victims of human trafficking that provides safe housing and connects people to support services.
Staying committed
For Cordero, this work is more than a job.
“It’s a calling,” she said. “It’s what drives me.”
What keeps her going are the moments when she sees people begin to move forward and rebuild their lives.
As part of the award, Cordero received a $10,000 contribution from Kaiser Permanente to donate to the nonprofit of her choice. She chose to support the work of SANE-SART.
