About Operation Samahan

Mission Statement

To promote better health and living conditions for all members of the community particularly among the indigent, low-income, uninsured and underserved individuals and families, by providing high quality, affordable and culturally accessible primary health care, health promotion and education, and multi-faceted social services.

Vision Statement

To provide a leadership role in reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes among the indigent, low-income, uninsured and underserved individuals and families in San Diego County.  

History

“Samahan” is a Pilipino word which means working together. It was founded in 1973 by a group of doctors and other health professionals as well as community leaders to assist ailing Filipino elders access healthcare. A small barbershop in downtown San Diego became Operation Samahan’s  hub of health screening as well as informal health education gatherings.  As the number grew and more Filipinos and other underserved ethnic groups accessed  its services,  Operation Samahan was officially incorporated in 1973 into a 501 © 3, nonprofit freestanding private community clinic. More than thirty years later, what started as a community project initiated by Filipino community volunteers turned into a multi-service family health and multi-service center serving low-income families and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds—Latinos, Filipino, Laotians, Asian and Pacific Islanders, African-American, Caucasians and refugees from the Middle East and other countries

Today

Today, Operation Samahan serves over 20,000 patients and provides 45,000 patient visits a year in  three sites. Its geographic locations differ in environmental as well as socio-economic climates. The clinic has effectively managed such differences by tailoring their services to fit the special needs and priorities of these two highly diverse communities, both of which are situated in high-need and underserved areas.