History

Inspiration for the Mobile Health Clinic grew out of the San Diego Health & Faith Alliance (www.sandiegohealthandfaith.org), a non profit corporation formed in 2003 to facilitate the provision of health care services to those with no other access to care, while training health care professionals in the setting of faith-based organizations and public service organizations.

Initiated by Dr. Margaret McCahill of the UCSD School of Medicine, Dr. Margaret Stevenson of the Point Loma Nazarene University School of Nursing, and Dr. Todd Edwards of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of San Diego, the Alliance was inspired, in part, by the services provided in Los Angeles by the QueensCare Health & Faith Partnership.

With a long-term commitment of support from Father Joe Carroll, President of Father Joe's Villages, the Alliance united members from San Diego health ministries at local churches, professional training programs at three local universities, and area community service agencies, to begin to address the health care needs of the uninsured.

The Alliance's first site opened in September 2003 at the Church of the Nazarene, Mid-City, located at 4101 University Avenue, San Diego. It continues to provide valuable health services to the community. For example, recently a patient sought care for an injury to his hands resulting from a construction accident. In the course of his treatment, the staff discovered he had more serious health problems with undiagnosed and untreated high blood pressure (hypertension) and an enlarged heart. By receiving successful treatment for all his conditions, the man, who had a family of seven dependent upon him, was able to stabilize his health and return to work.