$1.6 MILLION IN ANNUAL PERMANENT FUNDING ANNOUNCED TO ENCOURAGE DOCTORS TO SERVE IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES

San Diego’s Diamond Neighborhood Family Health Care Center will benefit from Thompson Program

August 2, 2009 (San Diego) – Assemblymembers Mary Salas (D-San Diego) and Hector De La Torre (D-Los Angeles) announce permanent funding of $1.6 million annually to the Steven M. Thompson Program, which encourages doctors statewide to serve in low-income rural and urban communities . On August 4, the Assemblymembers and community leaders will welcome Dr. Bahghi Keflezighi to the Diamond Neighborhood Family Health Care Center as a participating doctor in the Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program, which was created to address physician shortages in low-income communities throughout the state.

The Program encourages doctors to serve in low-income and rural communities for at least three years. In July, the Foundation awarded $1.6 million through 16 grants. The Diamond Neighborhood Family Health Care Center, alongside thousands of patients in the San Diego area, will benefit by having another doctor in their community. The Diamond Neighborhood Family Health Care Center is located at 220 Euclid Avenue, Suite 40.

Assemblymember De La Torre authored Assembly Bill 2439, which generates more than $1.6 million per year to fund the Thompson Program from a mandatory $25 fee from physicians. Specifically, the Program will provide an estimated $105,000 in loan reimbursements per physician to practice medicine in under-served communities throughout California.