Ed Martinez, Chief Executive Officer
San Ysidro Health Center

Ed Martinez has 30 years of healthcare management experience including the administration of two acute care hospitals, two urban Community Health Centers and one multi-specialty medical group. Ed earned his Master of Public Health – Hospital Administration Degree from Yale University. He also received his Master’s and Bachelor’s of Public Administration from San Diego State University.

In September 1998, Ed joined the staff of San Ysidro Health Center (SYHC) as the organization’s CEO. San Ysidro Health Center is a large Federally Qualified Health Center located in south San Diego County, adjacent to the U.S. –Mexico border. SYHC’s patient population consists of 50,000 South County residents. Each year, the health center generates approximately 150,000 service encounters in the areas of primary care, oral health and behavioral health services. San Ysidro Health Center’s patient population consists primarily of uninsured, traditionally underserved patients. Close to 90 percent of the health center’s patients are of Hispanic descent.

SYHC has been recognized by various public/community health authorities as a leader in the development of innovative, community-based initiatives for the delivery of health care services for people of all ages; children, adults and seniors. As a community leader and advocate for public health issues, Martinez is extremely familiar with health care and aging in the clinical environment. “Approximately 3,000 patients seen at SYHC are 65 or older,” said Martinez, “but they account for almost 17,000 visits each year.”

“The critical factor,” said Martinez, “is too many of our elderly experience significant barriers accessing essential services such as primary care, oral health and behavioral health services. Problems such as lack of insurance, social isolation, physical limitations and absence of culturally appropriate services place our seniors at high risk in terms of health outcomes. That’s why SYHC has worked hard to develop an integrated care system that provides our seniors with high quality, community-based and culturally proficient health services. Our focus is on prevention, screening and early intervention.”