Galo A. Rodriguez

As president and CEO of an organization that has provided social services in greater Hartford since 1809, Dr. Rodriguez feels an immense responsibility to the children and families served by The Village.

“I believe that all children, absent a major physical or mental health condition, have the potential to thrive, if given the resources and support they need to overcome barriers and challenges they face,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “The Village’s core role is to provide hope to those children and families who can’t see a successful future for themselves.”

“In many ways my role is the same as it was in the early days when I practiced medicine and 18 years ago when I provide therapeutic care for hundreds of Latino families – I still deeply care for people and want to provide them with the tools to be successful in their lives,” he says.

In his leadership role, Dr. Rodriguez provides the vision for the agency; he is often its face and its voice, speaking on behalf of its leadership team and over 400 dedicated professional staff. He has committed himself to building an organization of talented, skilled, dedicated employees, one that embraces and honors diversity, openness and innovation. He has high standards of excellence for himself and all employees – with the goal of providing the highest level of treatment, service and advocacy for our clients.

“I am grateful for the support of funders, donors and volunteers and for the solid relationships The Village has with state agencies and other service providers,” he says.

Prior to The Village, Dr. Rodriguez was the chief operating officer of Catholic Charities, overseeing programs in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties. His career at Catholic Charities spanned 16 years, where he rose to serve as executive director of the Hartford region and director of the Institute for the Hispanic Family.

Dr. Rodriguez is active in efforts to improve partnerships on behalf of children. Toward that end, he serves on the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council, and the board of directors of the Hartford Federal Credit Union, CT Council of Family Services Agencies, Connecticut Association of Human Services, and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. He also participates with the Alliance for Children and Families and National Council for Behavioral Health.

Dr. Rodriguez earned a master’s in public health from the University of Connecticut and received his training and licensure as a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Cartagena in his native Colombia, South America. His medical career included serving as a family physician with the Colombia Red Cross, in a city hospital and in private practice, as well as a physician in a psychiatry and substance abuse program in San Pablo Hospital in Cartegena.

Dr. Rodriguez, his wife Moraima, and their five children reside in Hartford.