Fifty-six years ago, a small group of mothers in San Ysidro opened a modest clinic – “La Casita” – so their children could see a doctor. That act of neighborly courage became San Ysidro Health (SYHealth), a countywide nonprofit health system now serving hundreds of thousands of San Diegans. The organization remains rooted in a revolutionary idea: access to excellent care should belong to everyone. Today, innovation is how San Ysidro Health honors that legacy.
Prestigious Recognition
For the first time ever, SYHealth published groundbreaking research in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The research integrates AI diabetic-retinopathy screening into routine primary care. Results flow instantly to the electronic health record and trigger risk-based referrals – fewer appointments, faster care. The model is drawing national attention, with invitations to share insights from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) leading responsible innovation. In a nutshell, “The algorithm informs; the provider decides, and the patient benefits,” shares Edgar Diaz, MD, MPH.
Rx: Art
Through a partnership with Art Pharmacy, clinicians can now “prescribe” creative engagement such as visual arts, music, dance, writing, and museum visits; matched to each patient’s culture, language, mobility, and schedule. Creative experiences complement medical treatment, and patients report feeling more connected and engaged in their health. San Diego’s first arts prescription pilot is now underway, serving 250 young people facing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. “We are expanding access to innovative, culturally responsive behavioral health care by integrating creative arts into healing, fostering connection, strength, and hope,” Priti Ojha, MD shared with GB Magazine.
Community Grown Physician Talent
With support from the Parker Foundation, collaboration with the American College of Physicians, and leadership from Dr. Elisa Quiroz, the SYHealth Community Health Pathways program mentors local students, expands exposure to health careers, and builds a pipeline of future physicians from local communities. Recently, scholars presented thirteen posters translating evidence into action and showcasing exceptional clinical cases in Hispanic women. These presentations reflected diagnostic excellence and collaboration across San Ysidro Health, Scripps Mercy, UC San Diego, and San Diego State University.
Innovation Is A Partnership
Every project follows a clear playbook: validate the science, tailor to community needs, and co-design with patients and clinicians. This work is sustained by philanthropy. With leadership from Catalyst San Diego & Imperial Counties, the Clare Rose Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, the Latatorre Foundation, the Avila Fund, the Parker Foundation, the Foundation for Hospital Art, and many others, San Ysidro Health is implementing barrier-breaking innovation and expanding services where they are needed most.
To explore partnership opportunities, arrange a clinic tour, or recommend a donor-advised fund grant, please contact Maria Paredes, Director of Philanthropy, at (310) 904-8470.
www.syhealth.org
