Golden Valley Health Centers is a community health center providing high-quality, affordable healthcare services to families across Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin Counties in California’s Central Valley.
What began in 1972 as a small migrant farmworker health program has grown into one of the largest community health centers in the Central Valley. Today, our mission is to provide access to high-quality healthcare for all, serving every patient with dignity, respect, and compassion.
We employ over 1,400 staff members and serve more than 162,000 patients each year across three counties. Our providers and staff reflect the diversity of the region. Many live in the same communities they serve, building trusted relationships that improve health outcomes and strengthen community health.
We are certified by The Joint Commission, meeting nationally recognized standards for patient safety, quality improvement, and clinical excellence.
As a designated Federally Qualified Health Center, we are a nonprofit healthcare provider offering comprehensive primary care and integrated health services.
We accept Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program), Medicare, and most private insurance plans.
A Sliding Fee Program is available to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured patients with household incomes under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Eligibility is based on gross income and family size.
Our focus on preventive care helps patients stay healthier and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room or hospital.
By managing chronic conditions early and emphasizing prevention, we help families maintain their health, stability, and quality of life throughout the Central Valley.
The people in California’s central valley are as diverse as the crops we grow and the food we produce for the nation. Golden Valley Health Centers cares for people from all walks of life. As a Federally Qualified Health Center — an FQHC — we follow the Federal and the State of California regulations pertaining to the type and quality of health services provided to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
Golden Valley Health Centers serve all races, ages, and walks of life. Our staff and providers are as diverse as the patients we serve—many are bilingual and residents of the community.
We offer a sliding fee scale for the uninsured and lower-income patients to enable patients of all income levels to access services.
Golden Valley Health Centers is funded by federal monies, grants specifically for the care of low-income and homeless patients, insurance reimbursement for care, and donations. With an operating budget of over $127 million, we have 45 health centers in Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin Counties, including four school-based health centers, two freestanding women’s health centers, twelve dental clinics, and two homeless healthcare programs.
This health center receives HHS funding and has Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.
Mission
We provide access to high-quality health care for all, serving with dignity, respect and compassion.
Vision
By living our core values, we will be recognized as an employer and provider of choice, where everyone feels genuinely cared for and valued.
Core VALUES
- Collaboration: We value and promote collaboration at all levels, creating a culture built on trust, empathy, positivity, clarity and accountability.
- Advocacy: We champion practices and policies that promote equity in health care and sustainability for GVHC.
- Integrity: Our actions reflect our commitment to a culture where honesty, transparency and accountability ensure we do the right thing.
- Innovation: We value curiosity, technology, inclusivity and adaptability to continually improve the way we work.
- Respect: We respect and value every person we interact with, treating one another with dignity and compassion.
History of GVHC
In September 1972, the organization began as a small Migrant Health Services program connected to Merced General Hospital. Founding CEO, Mike Sullivan, led the way with a budget of less than $200,000, a small but mighty staff of six, and a part-time MD. Health services were initially provided at the Hospital during evening hours. The following year, Merced Family Health Centers received its nonprofit corporation from the state of California and broke ground soon after on Childs Avenue in Merced, where our largest Health Center campus in the region remains today.
Since its inception, Golden Valley Health Centers has greatly expanded to meet the needs of the community across Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. Currently, the organization proudly serves over 145,000 patients each year through 45 clinical locations in the region. In 2022, GVHC celebrated its 50th anniversary, a remarkable accomplishment of providing high-quality, primary care services to hundreds of thousands across the communities we serve. From 2014-2024, under the outstanding leadership of CEO Tony Weber, the organization has made significant strides in improving access to health care for underserved populations.
In 2024 Weber retired after a decade of excellent leadership. Following his retirement, GVHC welcomed David Quackenbush to serve as President and Chief Executive officer. Mr. Quackenbush is a leader in prioritizing, developing and providing direction and oversight for the organization’s vision, strategy, corporate growth. His focus is increasing access to high quality comprehensive health care services. The core belief that everyone should have access to health care has been the guiding principle of GVHC since its founding, and remains central to its work to this day. Golden Valley Health Centers continues to meet its mission through dedication, hard work, and the power of partnership.
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