Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Melgoza.
Hi Ana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, where my mother brought my siblings and me to Rodgers Health — the first non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center in the state, founded by a visionary Black pediatrician. I remember feeling welcomed and safe; that sense of belonging shaped my life’s work.
Today, as Vice President of External Affairs for San Ysidro Health, I carry that same spirit of inclusion. When I joined in 2005, I built our External Affairs department from scratch — weaving together advocacy, philanthropy, creative services, outreach, and communications.
Our story began in 1969, when seven courageous mothers with limited education collectively organized and opened “La Casita,” a small white house, so their children could receive the care they deserved. From that simple act of love, we have grown into a trusted healthcare provider to more than 161,000 lives across San Diego County. Today, we deliver essential medical, dental, and behavioral health services to hardworking families who refuse to let financial barriers stand in the way of their well-being. Guided by compassion and powered by a team of 3,000 dedicated employees—77% women—we operate 50 sites where every child, every senior, and every family can find dignity, health, and a future full of possibility.
The heartbeat of San Ysidro Health is community. And through our La Casita Fund, we invite others to join that heartbeat — helping families in crisis, funding essential care, and keeping compassion local.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t been easy. Community health centers face constant financial uncertainty and policy threats that endanger access for both documented and undocumented families. Leading through these challenges requires resilience — and relentless belief in health equity.
What keeps me going is every patient story: the mother who finds care for her child, the senior who finally feels heard. These moments remind me that our work isn’t charity — it’s justice.
That’s why I urge readers: if our mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve with access for all resonates with you, support the La Casita Fund. Your contribution fuels immediate help — from dental care for a child to medication for an elder. Small gifts make monumental change when rooted in community love.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
“Technology will advance healthcare — but humanity must lead it.”
Healthcare’s future is shifting rapidly. We’ll see breakthroughs in telehealth, AI, and data-driven care — but the true transformation will come from human connection.
At San Ysidro Health, we’re investing in both innovation and compassion. We continue to increase our specialty care so our patients can continue care in their community and forgo long trips to a neurologist, gastroenterologist, etc. We continue to add sites for our ever-growing Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly so our seniors can age with dignity and safely in their homes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.syhealth.org
- Instagram: @sanysidrohealth
- Facebook: @SanYsidroHealth
- LinkedIn: @SanYsidroHealth
- Youtube: @SYHCORG
