Cari Medina was an 1199SEIU member beginning in 1996, when she worked as an administrative secretary at Boston Medical Center. She began actively engaging with the union in 2008, starting out as a delegate, then a co-chapter chair, and then rank-and-file member for the 1199SEIU Executive Council. Medina joined 1199SEIU staff as an administrative organizer in 2012.
She became 1199’s first Latina vice president for the Steward Team, appointed in 2020 and elected in 2022. She serves as one of the Trustees for the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund. Since leading members through the demise of the Steward Health Care system, Medina has taken on a new role as vice president of the Community Care team.