Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, president and CEO of JHF, has been recognized as one of the Pittsburgh Power 100 2026: The Legends for her decades of transformative leadership in health care and the nonprofit sector.
Over 35 years, Dr. Feinstein has driven impactful initiatives both locally and nationally, with a steadfast focus on ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic, supporting healthy aging, reducing medical errors and hospital-acquired infections, advancing women’s health, and, more recently, championing teen mental health. She has also been a leading advocate for the creation of a national patient safety board to address systemic challenges that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colleagues credit Dr. Feinstein’s visionary leadership, steadfast activism, and moral clarity as central to JHF’s success. Bill Isler, president and CEO emeritus of Fred Rogers Productions and longtime JHF board member, praised her ability to anticipate emerging needs and turn bold ideas into reality.
Under Dr. Feinstein’s leadership, JHF has remained committed to its core priorities while continually identifying opportunities to make meaningful, lasting change.
This recognition celebrates not only her legacy of leadership but also the Foundation’s enduring commitment to improving health and well-being in Pittsburgh and beyond.