Maribeth Ugalde

Fifty years ago, in the midst of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, four African American mothers launched The West Oakland Health Council. It immediately rose up to become the neighborhood anchor for healthcare, health education, food and housing programs, and voter registration. The clinic became a spark that led to a transformation in health care advocacy in California and the nation. West Oakland Health Council’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves by providing the highest quality of health care and treatment for its diverse patient population throughout Alameda County. Each of the clinic’s health centers strives to be a hub for health, compassion, engagement, and inspiration. Today the West Oakland Health Council has an impact throughout the East Bay, with five clinic sites, one in Berkeley, one in West Oakland, and three in East Oakland. The services provided include high-quality comprehensive adult and family medicine, pediatric health care, dental care, optometry, podiatry, behavioral health services, and pharmacies at two locations. We are a patient-centered medical home. Since its founding, and still today, The West Oakland Health Council has received federal grant funding, through the Health Resources and Services Administration. As such a grant recipient, the center is a Federally Qualified Health Center (“FQHC”). The patients we serve include those enrolled in Medi-Cal, Medicare, other insurance, and those with no insurance. Contracts with the State of California and Alameda County also enable the clinic to provide important patient services.