Camarena Health exists to be the heart of healthcare in the communities we serve. However, truly building stronger, healthier communities goes beyond the typical services provided through our health centers. The Camarena Health Foundation exists to support the organizations, outreach programs, and initiatives that impact our communities holistically.
Each year, the Camarena Health Foundation hosts a well-attended golf tournament to fund health programs for children in need. The Camarena Classic Golf Tournament offers an opportunity for golfers to spend the day with friends, meet other community members, and support Camarena Health’s community health programs. All proceeds go towards the foundation, which supports free-to-the-community health programs such as Car Seats for Kids and our Child Literacy Program.
June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, a time to bring critical attention to the unique health challenges men face and encourage a proactive approach to mental wellness. At Camarena Health,…
2024 Camarena Health Scholarship Awards Celebrating nearly three decades of commitment to education and community health, Camarena Health is thrilled to announce the 2024 Scholarship Awards. This year, we’ve reached…
Driving Success Highlights from the Camarena Classic Charity Golf Tournament We are thrilled to announce the outstanding results of the 2024 Camarena Classic Charity Golf Tournament, a pivotal event that…
In 2002, Camarena Health launched a literacy program to promote early literacy to children between 6 months to 5 years old.
Meet Andrew Contreras, a shining example of commitment and inspiration in Madera’s healthcare community.
Unveiled in August 2022, Camarena Health announced the grand opening of our state-of-the-art Almond Medical Campus.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Madera, Dr. Samaniego’s story is one of dedication, empathy, and unwavering commitment to her community. As a child, her sensitive and caring nature…
In the heart of Madera County, where the need for healthcare guidance is as vast as the fields that surround it, Cristina Rendon stands out as an advocate of proactive…
Camarena Health rolled out its “Shine Together” women’s health campaign in 2022, highlighting the unique healthcare needs of women in all stages of life. This wasn’t just another campaign –…
Madera County, like many regions, has residents who face challenges accessing essential healthcare. However, with Camarena Health’s Mobile Health initiative, we are taking active steps to bridge the healthcare gap.…
Showing Gratitude to Our Esteemed Employees As part of our commitment to creating a positive and healthy work environment for our employees, we organized several employee appreciation events and activities…
As Camarena Health continued to hire and increase recruitment efforts in 2022 we also remained focus on ensuring our healthcare workforce had the skills and compassion needed to provide the…
Each August, the collective efforts of health centers come together to highlight the health center movement’s significance and the profound influence these centers have within their communities. Community Health Centers…
We are thrilled to announce the release of the 2022 Camarena Health Annual Report! This report provides an insightful glimpse into our unwavering commitment to serving our community and creating…
Meet Our Promotores de Salud At Camarena Health, our Promotores de Salud program is a testament to the power of community engagement and the ripple effect of positive health advocacy.…
Reflecting on this year’s Scholarship Fundraiser, held on April 21 at the Veterans Memorial Building, we’re filled with gratitude. For the past 29 years Camarena Health has hosted an annual…
2023 Camarena Health Scholarship Awards Ceremony Since its inception in 1995, Camarena Health has proudly awarded 204 scholarships to students from Madera County who aspire to make a difference in…
Recently, Camarena Health had the honor of partnering with Make-A-Wish to bring a special wish to life for a truly resilient local child, Jocelyn. Our teams joined hands to arrange…
Empathy Training For Staff Being a patient-centered health center, Camarena Health is always striving to increase quality of care for its patients. Camarena Health has noticed that more and more…
Delivering Good News for Oakhurst Patients A Camarena Health provider in Oakhurst is putting a positive light on patient health and has found herself more frequently giving the best news…
Camarena Health Sponsors Local Child Through Make-A-Wish Camarena Health hosted a send-off for Luis, age 13 of Madera, a Make-A-Wish recipient who is on his way to having his wish…
Bridging the Gap of Health for the Community The Camarena Health Mobile Unit: Raymond is a small town in the foothills of Madera County about 20 miles from the nearest…
Quality Awards for Quality Healthcare Camarena Health staff went above and beyond the call of duty in 2021 by continuing to provide quality-based care to patients, and that does not…
Protecting Our Community With COVID-19 Vaccine The COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort is without a doubt a monumental achievement for Camarena Health. Upon learning that a vaccine was now available to…
We See You, Chowchilla At Camarena Health Optometry in Chowchilla, we believe that early detection of vision problems is the key to preventing further damage to your eyes and allowing…
Delivering Quality Healthcare Through our Ag Partners Camarena Health and the agricultural community have deep roots in Madera County, this partnership is as long and rich as their legacies. In…
Reducing the Stigma of Mental Health The worldwide conversation surrounding mental health has grown exponentially in the last decade and Camarena Health has been quick to adapt and expand its…
At Camarena Health, we strive to carry out our core values of Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork (H.E.A.R.T) in the work and care we provide our patients every…
Camarena Health unveils 5-building medical campus in Madera Last month, Camarena Health officially introduced its new 5-building campus on Almond Avenue to community stakeholders at an open house event. Nicknamed…
Camarena Health celebrates National Health Center Week 2022 Community health centers across the country as well as celebrating the Camarena Health community in the Central Valley with events and giving…
7th Annual Health Careers Start Here Youth Conference Camarena Health hosted its 7th annual Health Careers Start Here Youth Conference on Friday, May 20. The conference was held at Madera…
We are excited to share the success of our 10th Annual Camarena Classic Golf Tournament where we raised more than $80,000! On April 22nd, 144 golfers convened at the Dragonfly…
At Camarena Health, we are doing our part to improve community health. That’s why we’re working to prevent ACEs. ACEs stands for adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences are potentially…
In 2020, Camarena Health embarked on a partnership with the newly instituted California Health Sciences University (CHSU) School of Medicine. The opportunity to provide graduate medical education locally will help…
We are proud of our strong commitment to community and health care. That means hiring staff who understand the unique issues facing our patients in Madera and the Central Valley.…
Our Camarena Health dental professionals provide high-quality dental care. Dr. Ravi Patel, DDS, provides excellent dental treatment to patients at our multi-facility health center in Chowchilla. This is his story…
The month of October 2020 kicked off the launch of our Mobile Health Unit, a 43-foot state-of-the-art unit featuring two private exam rooms, fully equipped to provide medical, dental, and…
Through a partnership with Matilda Torres High School health services, we opened our second School-Based Health Center. Conveniently connected to the school nurse’s office, the state-of-the-art health center provides medical,…
Camarena Health partnered with Central Valley Health Network (CVHN) to provide Madera Unified Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) students the opportunity to participate in the California Area Health Education Center (AHEC)…
At Camarena Health, not only do we impact the health of our patients and community, but we impact the economy as well. As a trusted and long-standing Health Center, we…
2020 was a year we won’t soon forget. This past year marked our 40th Anniversary, and it served as a great reminder of the much-needed services and access to care…
Camarena Health is proud to have partnered with the Make-A-Wish Adopt-A-Wish program to provide a positive impact on a child’s life. On average, a wish is granted every 34 minutes.…
On Wednesday, June 2, Camarena Health broke ground on its new state-of-the-art Wellness Center at the Tesoro Viejo Town Center. The facility will be located next door to The Hub,…
Camarena Health hosted its 6th annual Health Careers Start Here Youth Conference May 24 and 25 at the Madera Technical Exploration Center to support Madera Unified School District 8th grade…
We are excited to share the success of our 9th Annual Camarena Classic Golf Tournament where we raised more than $56,000! On April 30th, 144 golfers convened at the Dragonfly…
We are happy to announce that the Camarena Health Promotores de Salud is continuing to partner with UC Merced for a new research project. The project “Promotoras and Community Based Education” addresses asthma issues in…
Helping Patients Control Their Hypertension Camarena Health demonstrated a 5.79% improvement in con-trolling patients with hypertension. This was attributed to our well-integrated patient care teams. The teams are comprised of a Medical Provider, Medical Assistant, Health Educator, Registered Dietitian, and Clinical Pharmacist. The team implements home blood pressure monitoring and immediate communication between the team…
New Services Expansion Tele-Psychiatry In Madera, there is limited access to psychiatry services. Many patients have to commute an extended distance and wait months before they can access this care. In August 2019, we launched our Tele-Psychiatry Program in conjunction with our existing mental and behavioral health services. We removed a barrier to access this…
CAM Health Internship Programs Camarena Health is proud to provide Central Valley students with the opportunity to learn and work at our facilities. This work has nourished our local community and has given us the ability to have a hand in the development of the next generation of health heroes. We participated in the Central…
Madera South Health Pathway Trauma, Resilience, and the Power of Relationships In October, Madera South’s Mr. Coppola and two Madera South ROP MedicalCareer alumni were able to present at the Trauma, Resilience, and the Power of Relationships Regional Convening hosted by the California School-BasedHealth Alliance. These brave students spoke about their efforts on campus to…
Making Connections & Making Changes Agriland Wellness Plan We supported our ag community by partnering with Agriland Farms to provide biometric screenings for their employees. These screenings were held at the Agriland Wellness Center throughout the month of June. The purpose of the screenings was to provide the farmers with a snapshot of their current…
Pursuing Passions Research One piece of feedback we received from our providers was a desire to have a platform to conduct research. Dr. Pushkal Jadaun was essential in pushing for this and was a large part of the development of Camarena Health’s very own institutional Review Board. The Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) at any institution…
Health and Wellness Center coming to Tesoro Viejo “CAMARENA HEALTH BRINGS HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER, JOBS TO TESORO VIEJO” MADERA, CA – Camarena Health is proud to announce its collaboration with Tesoro Viejo on the development of a health and wellness center. This new, state-of-the-art 13,000 square-foot building will be situated in the heart of…
Camarena Kids Pediatric Center A Continuity Clinic for the Valley Children’s Pediatric Residency Program As part of our Aspire to Inspire the teaching health center program initiative, we partnered with Valley Children’s PediatricResidency Program to launch our first continuity clinic at our Camarena Kids PediatricCenter in Madera. Our goal in launching a continuity clinic site…
Camarena Health initiated a new workflow in efforts to improve our community health outcomes. To address unmet patient needs that could negatively affect their overall health, we began assessing patients for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Our initial efforts were focused on patients with uncontrolled diabetes. We understand patients struggling with behavior changes, such as…
Emily Valdez Emily Valdez is originally from San Jacinto, a small town in Southern California. She moved to Fresno in 2011 to attend Fresno State as a nutrition major with a goal to eventually become a registered dietitian (RD). She planned on leaving the Central Valley after college to move back closer to home. During…
Promotores Frente a la Obesidad Infantil We partnered with Valley Children’s Hospital and MGY Building Health Capacity to develop a program to help prevent and reverse childhood obesity in Madera. According to the Madera Community, HealthNeeds Assessment childhood obesity is in the top three identified medical threats to the community. Over the last decade, the…
Anti-Smoking and Vaping Campaign The Madera County Department of Public Health, Tobacco Control Program was funded for FFY 2017-2021. The goal of the Madera County Tobacco Control Program is to promote health and advocate for social norm changes regarding tobacco use through interventions that focus on policy, system, and environmental changes. Priorities include the reduction…
Millbrook Health CenterEnsuring your care continues! We are pleased to announce the opening of our new Millbrook Health Center. The Millbrook Health Center is a partnership with Saint Agnes Medical Center to provide primary care services and post-hospital care visits. The goal of the Millbrook Health Center is to ensure that the transition from…
Our 2019 Annual Report is Here Flourish This year’s annual report focuses on the theme: “flourish”. 2019 was a year of outstanding growth for Camarena Health. We opened several new locations, expanded our available services, and grew our community outreach programs. Our goal in 2019 was to see our patients, community and staff thrive and…
Introducing the Almond CampusCamarena Health’s Biggest Project Ever We are pleased to announce our largest expansion to date: a five-building campus on Almond Avenue in Madera housing every service we offer. The campus will transform the existing urgent care location and adjacent lot into brand new facilities. Services will include family care, urgent care,…
Camarena Health’s Promotores de Salud have partnered for research with the Nicotine & Cannabis Policy Center (NCPC) at University of California Merced.
On February 8, the Camarena Health team gathered for our first-ever Aspire to Inspire Awards Ceremony, recognizing our dedicated teaching staff.
On January 18, we were honored to receive the Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce’s Vision Award, at their 2020 Community Awards Dinner.
In partnership with the Madera Workforce Assistance Center, Camarena Health offers training and employment to those seeking careers in healthcare.
Between them, Physician’s Assistants Kevin Tiyaamornwong and Moises Zamora have spent over 36 years caring for patients and creating memories at Camarena Health.
On Nov. 1, 147 golfers made our 8th Annual Camarena Classic golf tournament our most successful outing yet!
Rosario Nava is a no-nonsense woman who does not have time to wait. Which is why it is important, says Rosario, that Camarena Health never keeps her waiting.
Pediatrician Dr. Guillermo Sandoval’s life has slowed down quite a bit since he started with Camarena Health – which is exactly what he wanted.
Dr. Kirandeep Panatch chose to practice dentistry at Camarena Health because she knew we would allow her to focus on patient care above all else. She has stayed because she…
On October 2, we celebrated the grand opening of our new, multi-facility health center in Chowchilla, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour.
Ronnie Hill is a 55-year-old jokester and diabetic who will talk your ear off if you let him. That is why he is especially grateful for Camarena Health’s diabetes support…
Three years ago, Optometrist Dr. Stephanie Phyo had a vision for Camarena Health’s optometry program.
We are excited to announce that Camarena Health has partnered with Fresno State Athletics to become the official sponsor of the Junior Bulldogs Kids Club!
Rosalba Serrano Rivera might be Camarena Health’s Director of Behavioral Health Services, but she still sees patients every day – just like she did when she helped found Camarena Health’s…
Monique Pickens is a third-generation Camarena Health patient who, at the time of her interview, was 21 weeks into her second pregnancy. According to her, there was never any question…
Camarena Health strives to be the “Heart of Healthcare” for Madera County and neighboring residents. Through this year’s annual report, we will share how we weaved these core values throughout…
On August 1, we celebrated National Health Center Week by hosting a Community Wellness & Resource Fair!
On May 17, we celebrated National Women’s Health Week 2019 by hosting our fourth annual Women’s Health & Wellness Conference at the Madera County Office of Education. This free, educational event gave over 160 women from throughout Madera County a chance to come together and take control of their health: “The purpose of this conference…
On May 3, we hosted our 5th annual Health Careers Start Here High School Youth Conference at Madera Community College, in partnership with the Madera County Compact. The conference gave high school students throughout the area a chance to speak with local healthcare professionals, participate in hands-on learning activities, and learn what it takes to…
This year, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Camarena Health Scholarship Program by giving out over $25,000 worth of scholarships! Since 1995, Camarena Health has awarded 168 scholarships (and a total of $234,200) to Madera County high school graduates pursuing a career in healthcare. This year, we were proud to award 14 new scholarships of…
Dedicated to Excellence Camarena Health’s ability to consistently exceed expectations in providing healthcare and specialized programs is evident through our quality outcomes. Areas we’ve exceeded state and national standards: Adult Health: Tobacco Use Assessment and Counseling Camarena (96.60%)State (88.85%)National (87.50%) Patients age 18 and older who (1) were screened for tobacco use one or…
At Camarena Health, we know the teenagers in our community are under a lot of pressure, sometimes to the point of experiencing mental and behavioral health issues. And we know the stigmas attached to reaching out for help with those issues. We’re aiming to remove those stigmas, and to give students the tools they need…
Camarena Kids is now open! A number of Madera city officials, county officials, and community members joined our staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration on Feb. 15, in which…
Dedicated to Excellence Camarena Health’s ability to consistently exceed expectations in providing healthcare and specialized programs is evident through our quality outcomes. Areas we’ve exceeded state and national standards: Adult Health: Tobacco Use Assessment and Counseling Camarena (97.75%)State (88.85%)National (87.50%) Patients age 18 and older who (1) were screened for tobacco use one or…
At Camarena Health, we pride ourselves on being the Central Valley’s leading Teaching Community Health Center! Over the last 38 years, we’ve created a thriving, collaborative organization, in which new students are always learning and our seasoned staff is always teaching. Camarena Health chose to become a Teaching Health Center because we saw a real…
Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions nationwide, but few places are affected more than the Central Valley. From San Joaquin to Kern County, our area’s diabetes patients have some of the nation’s worst outcomes – due to poverty, lack of insurance, provider shortages, and the lack of evidence-based chronic care programs. Looking for a way…
On Sept. 28, 130 golfers turned out for the 7th Annual Camarena Classic golf tournament, held at Dragonfly Golf Club. Beautiful weather made for a picture perfect day of golf, in which our golfers raised more than $37,000 to support several community benefit programs that Camarena Health provides patients and community members. Those programs include…
Dedicated to Excellence Camarena Health’s ability to consistently exceed expectations in providing healthcare and specialized programs is evident through our quality outcomes. Areas we’ve exceeded state and national standards: Adult Health: Tobacco Use Assessment and Counseling Camarena (98.63%)State (88.85%)National (85.19%) Patients age 18 and older who (1) were screened for tobacco use one or…
Camarena Health is excited and proud to announce our diabetes classes have officially been accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)! Accreditation from the AADE ensures our diabetes program abides by standards that ensure quality education in order to improve patient outcomes. Our program now includes an initial individual assessment completed by our Registered Dietitian…
This week we celebrated our Community Health Centers during National Health Center Week 2018 (August 12-18). This annual celebration intends to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments America’s health centers have achieved. Health centers provide approximately 27 million patients with accessible, high quality, cost effective healthcare. As the demand for affordable primary care continues to…
Dedicated to Excellence Camarena Health’s ability to consistently exceed expectations in providing healthcare and specialized programs is evident through our quality outcomes. Areas we’ve exceeded state and national standards: Adult Health: Tobacco Use Assessment and Counseling Camarena (98.83%)State (85.51%)National (85.19%) Patients age 18 and older who (1) were screened for tobacco use one or…
We continue to pursue our mission to provide the highest quality health care to the communities we are privileged to serve in a caring and compassionate manner. This mission has guided our dedication to the communities in Madera County for more than 37 years. Our 2017 report outlines our performance this past year as well as…
The groundbreaking ceremony of our newest multi-facility health center campus in Chowchilla on Prosperity Ave. was held on Thursday, May 31st. Community leaders, Camarena Health staff and supporters gathered together…
On Friday, April 27th Camarena Health hosted the 4th Annual Health Careers Start Here-High School Youth Conference. The Conference was facilitated in partnership with Madera County COMPACT, the Madera County…
Camarena Health celebrated National Women’s health week by hosting the third Women’s Health & Wellness Conference that took place on May 11, 2018 at the Pan American Center in Madera,…
On Friday April 6th we celebrated the Grand Opening of the first ever School Based Health Center (SBHC) in Madera County. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on location at…
Physician’s Assistant Clinical Residency Program Camarena Health is affiliated with the A.T. Still University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program as a community health center campus for clinical education. In August of…
Patient Experience Surveys As a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), soliciting patient feedback is critical, not only to our growth, but also to demonstrate our commitment to achieve the highest level…
Women’s Health and Wellness Conference National Women’s Health Week is an observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. The week is a nationwide initiative that calls attention to the importance of women’s health. In celebration of National Women’s Health Week, Camarena Health, along with key partners, hosted…
Annual Youth Conference As a healthcare provider in the Central Valley, we are faced with the reality of having an extreme healthcare professional shortage in primary care. One way we…
Hospital Partners Hospital Partnerships The landscape and environment of health care is constantly changing, and in order to maintain a high quality of care for our patients, we must be…
Patient Centered Medical Home In 2016, Camarena Health moved closer to the goal of having each of our sites recognized through the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a…
Insurance Enrollment Many of our patients, including the general community, do not understand or realize the insurance options they have available to them. Navigating through this complex system can be…
Focus Groups Camarena Health has substantially grown in our ability to serve the various needs of the community by adding new services, expanding and improving existing services, and/or expanding locations.…
We are humbled and astonished, yet again, at the remarkable growth and success another year has brought to Camarena Health. The year of 2016 was a defining year in many ways. In the literal sense, Camarena Health’s Leadership Team and Board of Directors collaboratively defined six Core Operating Values that not only serve as a…
We are proud to announce the opening of the very first Urgent Care facility in the Camarena Health family! As of October 10th, 2016 Camarena Health Urgent Care has opened…
It’s never a fun or pleasant experience to be in a position to need emergency or urgent care services. For this reason, we strive to make your visit as easy,…
2015 was an extraordinary year of exponential growth for Camarena Health. The impact of each area of our focus (community, family and health) has increased tremendously, and we are truly grateful for all of our patients, staff, volunteers and board members who helped make it happen. You can view or download our 2015 annual report…
Program Overview The Literacy Program at Camarena Health was implemented in 2002 with funding from Reach Out and Read and Reading is Fundamental. The program promotes early literacy to children…
Program Overview Camarena Health’s Car Seats Program is an interactive, educational, hands-on class to patients and community members, facilitated by Certified Child Passenger Technicians. The program was developed in 1993…
In January 2015 Camarena Health launched an integrated Behavioral Health Program that saw over 2,300 patients who were able to address their behavioral health conditions and learn skills to cope…
We are proud to announce the refresh of the Camarena Health Website! Not only is there an updated look and feel that accurately represents our brand and our mission, but…
The Literacy Program at Camarena Health was implemented in 2002 with funding from Reach Out and Read and Reading is Fundamental. The program promotes early literacy to children 6 months to 5 years old, by providing anticipatory guidance to parents about early literacy and the importance of engaging their child by reading aloud, providing advice for parents, and giving a book to the child. Camarena Health provides a new free, developmentally and linguistically appropriate book to pediatric patients 6 months to 5 years old. The child receives a free book during their well-child visit and another book at any other clinic visit.
Our medical providers and medical assistants give advice to parents on how to engage the child and read aloud to them; or, in cases when the parent him/herself can’t read, they show them how to interact with the child holding the book and pointing at the pictures and making sounds to make it fun for the child, stressing the importance, developmentally, of early literacy.
Camarena Health’s Car Seats Program is an interactive, educational, hands-on class to patients and community members, facilitated by Certified Child Passenger Technicians. The program was developed in 1993 in partnership with our local California Highway Patrol office, funded with a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. After this grant expired, the health center continued the program as a demonstration of its commitment to reducing unintentional injury to children in our community due to the non-use or misuse of child safety seats. Our organization has received funding from Kids’ Plates, State Farm, and Camarena Health’s Trees for Charity and the Annual Golf Tournament fundraising efforts throughout the existence of the program.
For more information about Car Seats for Kids, contact (559) 664-4000.
