L
oud 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.
Jeannette L. Aldous, MD
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
San Ysidro Health
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
[email protected]
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.
MAY 2020 | GBSAN.COM 11