Zara Marselian is selected as the 2014 Woman of the Year by Lorena Gonzalez, California State Assembly, 80th District. That same year Zara becomes a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders, representing an achievement of the highest standard of professional development.

With Federal 330(h) homeless designation funding, La Maestra Family Clinic opens its Hope Clinic in City Heights. The new site is designed to welcome those struggling with housing, addiction, mental health and other issues, including homeless persons and teens. It provides a safe, comforting environment while addressing patients’ needs by linking them into the comprehensive health, wellbeing and support services in La Maestra’s Circle of Care through HCDC’s I Choose Recovery Program.

With Affordable Care Act grants and training, La Maestra Family Clinic’s Community Health Access Department provides Outreach, Education and Enrollment Assistance to inform and enroll community members for Covered CA and Medi-Cal. 12,177 people receive education about their options under the Affordable Care Act; 533 Applications are submitted for Covered CA; and 1,020 uninsured patients become insured through this grant. In 2014, La Maestra Family Clinic becomes one of 25 community-based organizations across the nation to partner with National Council of La Raza and Walmart to implement the Comprando Rico y Sano Program. The program aims to increase Latino awareness of the importance of healthy cooking on a budget while helping to enroll eligible individuals and families into CalFresh, the federal nutrition assistance program. CHAD helps over 2,000 eligible individuals to enroll for benefits.

La Maestra Family Clinic receives the H. Jack Geiger Award for outstanding leadership in Program Management from the National Center for Health in Public Housing at its annual National Training Conference.

La Maestra’s Generations center opens in the former amnesty center and clinic buildings on Fairmount Avenue, with start-up funding from The California Endowment and an intergenerational program grant San Diego County Aging and Independence Services. Older adults and youth in City Heights are offered a growing range of programs designed to guide them toward overall wellbeing and greater opportunities in health, lifestyle, education and their future careers. Services include self-esteem and leadership development, academic support, Culture and Healing through Art classes, physical exercise and healthy eating, computer, STEM and job skills training, field trips and exposure to enrichment and career opportunities.

With an Affordable Care Act grant, La Maestra rolls out its 40-foot Mobile Clinic, equipped with 2 dental operatories and a medical exam room, providing medical, dental and vision screening services at schools in City Heights and National City.
Additional grants from Verizon Foundation in 2013 and 2014 equip the mobile clinic for telemedicine and digital optometry services. The mobile clinic also serves the community at numerous health and resource fairs held in parks and housing facilities.

The Imaging Center opens in the City Heights health center, the first of its kind in a community health center, offering state-of-the-art Full Field Digital Mammography and DEXAscan Bone Densitometry services onsite in the health home with teleradiology.
This dramatically reduces wait times for appointments and results, improves patient compliance and provides much needed access to screening for early detection of breast cancer and osteoporosis.

The Legal Advocacy Services department is established in the City Heights health center as a partnership between La Maestra Family Clinic and La Maestra Foundation, serving 330 clients in its first year. This partnership provides assistance and support to people who face rights violations or who are victims of crime, issues that too commonly affect the health and wellbeing of La Maestra’s low-income, culturally diverse service populations.
Collaborative partners include the US Committee on Refugees and Immigrants, National Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program and Casa Cornelia Law Center. The majority of clients are victims of domestic violence and trafficking. Staff also offers presentations to service providers on recognizing signs of domestic violence and trafficking; how victims qualify for assistance programs; and steps that a victim can take to transition from an abusive situation to finally achieving independence.

La Maestra’s Culture and Healing through Arts (CHA) program flourishes with major art installations in the City Heights health center. In July 2011, “Rising Star” by artist Terry Hansen, a talented San Diego resident and longtime La Maestra patient renowned for his woodworking ability, is installed in the lobby. The star is made of repurposed exotic wood from around the globe, steam bent to fit the curve of the wall. In December 2011, local teens paint animal-themed murals in the pediatrics exam rooms.
In March 2013, the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture unveils “Grandmother’s Kitchen/Grandfather’s Garden”, a digital sculptural installation showcasing a culinary visual history of the City Heights community, presented through the shared experiences and culturally specific stories of food. The installation, created by local community artist Lynn Susholtz funded by a gift from artist Niki de St. Phalle through Niki Charitable Art Foundation, is the first partnership of the Arts Commission with a nonprofit for long-term placement of a City-owned public artwork.