San Ysidro Health Center

San Diego Business Journal, Sept 22, 2008 by Ed Martinez

ORGANIZATION

Mission of organization: Provide safety net health services to uninsured.

Telephone: 619-662-4104.

Web site: syhc.org.

Founded: 1969.

Milestone: First federal grant in 1969 for safety net health services.

Annual income: $38 million.

Expense allocation: N/A

Corporate support: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Pacific Western Bank, California Bank and Trust, Buck Petroleum Co., Scripps Mercy Chula Vista, Cox Communications, Sempra Energy and Care 1st Health Plan.

Board chair: Macario Gutierrez.

Board members: Mercedes Bernal, Ernest Cardoza, Roy Cazares, Ruth Covell, M.D., Ruben Dominguez, Raul Eribez, Gilbert Fimbres, Margarita Navarro, Victor Nieto, Magdalena Peraza, Reynaldo Perez, Gloria Ramirez and Yolanda Santana.

Employees: 575.

Volunteers: 50.

Events: Latino Health Summit on Oct. 16 and 17.

Wish list: $1.5 million goal for maternal child health center campaign.

OFFICE ISSUES

Recent challenge: State budget crisis and deferral of payments from Medi-Cal program.

Measures of success: Increasing community's access to safety net services.

Smartest move: Acquiring our administrative office complex.

Missed opportunity: None that I can think of.

Misconception: Underestimating number of area residents losing employer-based health coverage.

PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS

Personal path to nonprofit work: Primary focus needs to be community service and quality patient care.

Toughest aspect: Balancing increasing need for safety net services with diminishing payments for service rendered.

Most surprising aspect: Collaboration of community-based organizations in South Bay to work together toward common goal of expanding access to health and social services for the traditionally underserved.

Biggest pain: Medi-Cal programs proposed elimination of dental benefits for adults.

Greatest pleasure: Responding to community's need for improved access to quality medical, dental and behavioral services.

INTROSPECTIONS

Best recent moment: Expanding pediatric dental program by assuming management of Rady Children's Pediatric Dental Clinic.

Worst recent moment: Word from Medi-Cal that payments to health providers would be suspended until Sacramento's budget crisis was resolved.

Dream for another life: Spending more time with my family.

Downtime: Enjoy reading, working out and gardening.

Causes: Universal health coverage.

Most like to meet: The Rev. Billy Graham.

Ed Martinez, CEO

Nonprofit Profile appears regularly on a space-available basis. Please contact Editor Tom York at tyork@sdbj.com if your organization would like to be featured.