FEARLESSLY & COMPASSIONATELY TENDING TO OUR NEIGHBORS
Loud cheers, waves and car horns greeted San Ysidro Health’s (SYHealth) team of doctors as they quickly posed for our Giving Back Magazine cover photo outside of our National City Family Clinic. This unexpected experience was humbling; a sign of our new reality as we count on our medical providers and clinic staff to be our first line of defense against the highly contagious COVID-19 pandemic.
This small but mighty group of healthcare heroes cheer back, wave and smile for the camera, having to squeeze lunch, notes and a meeting – all before seeing patients for the rest of their workday wearing their Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) – face shields and gloves.
LEADING INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT OVERSEEING OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
Dr. Jeannette Aldous, SYHealth’s Director of Infectious Disease, and Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros, Chief Medical Officer, have led SYHealth’s countywide staff throughout their clinics in responding to the health needs of the uninsured, low-income families struggling now more than ever. Dr. Aldous has been recognized by her peers, the community and the Centers for Disease Control for her longstanding leadership role in HIV and tuberculosis care and prevention. Dr. Aldous now applies her passion, experience and expertise in preventing the spread of COVID-19 among patients and staff and in keeping San Diego’s impacted emergency rooms from becoming even more overwhelmed.
SAN YSIDRO HEALTH EXPANDS TO EAST COUNTY AND EXPANDS TELEHEALTH SERVICES
From the initial onset of this public health crisis, SYHealth has adapted and remains open; providing expert, compassionate and accessible health care services for hard working families impacted by job loss across San Diego County. As of April 1, 2020, San Ysidro Health and Mountain Health formally merged and created a system of health care for more than 105,000 individuals in communities that now include: Campo, Alpine, Julian, Santee, Escondido and all of East County. New patients can get care directly from a healthcare provider through the SYHealthLine, (619) 205-6792 and if necessary, in-person.
OUR HEROES NEED YOUR HELP
Unconditional dedication and love for patients are routinely displayed by San Ysidro Health’s frontline staff, our heroes. They show-up daily and tirelessly fight to flatten the COVID-19 curve, but their efforts are in dire need of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for all medical providers, staff, and patients. To keep them safe and healthy as they sacrifice daily, San Ysidro Health is accepting monetary donations to purchase much-needed PPE as well as donations of soft masks, cloth masks, face shields, gloves and cover ups.
WAYS TO HELP SAN YSIDRO HEALTH HEROES & OUR NEIGHBORS STAY HEALTHY
To make a donation: https://give.syhealth.org/covid19
For in-kind donations of PPE items, email adrianna.odonnell@syhealth.org
Attend San Ysidro Health’s Virtual Gala on Saturday, August 15, 2020 www.syhealth.org
We are honored to have this dedicated team of healthcare experts who fight the daily war on
this pandemic for the good of all San Diegans. They can’t do it alone, and they can’t do it without supplies.
So please, take care of our heroes who are taking care of us.
