UCSF Fresno Mobile Health and Learning (Mobile HeaL) and the Marjaree Mason Center partnered recently to provide primary care services to survivors of domestic abuse and their children in Fresno. The first clinic was held at an undisclosed location in August, and mobile clinics will be offered on an ongoing basis moving forward.
“Survivors of domestic violence who are being assisted by the Marjaree Mason Center are in transition,” said Kenny Banh, MD, director of UCSF Fresno Mobile HeaL and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education at UCSF Fresno. “These are high-need patients who do not have access to their normal routine including primary, pediatric, and sexual health care. UCSF Fresno Mobile HeaL is perfectly suited to help.”
According to California Department of Justice data, in 2023, the San Joaquin Valley had the highest rate of domestic violence calls of all regions in California, with more than 71 calls per 10,000 residents. A report by Tim Sheehan for the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative detailed the startling statistics.
UCSF Fresno Mobile HeaL was set up by Dr. Banh in 2018 as a mobile medical clinic to make health care more accessible to all in the greater Fresno County area and to provide clinical learning experiences for pre-health students and medical students.
Meribeth Wareham, FNP, UCSF Fresno Mobile HeaL, is humbled to be part of a program that recognizes community needs and works to build solutions such as the partnership with Marjaree Mason. “Ultimately, our goal is to help bridge the gap in access to care during a time of crisis, ensuring survivors and their families can maintain their health and have some basic needs met while they work to rebuild their lives.”
The Marjaree Mason Center, the Central Valley’s only comprehensive domestic violence agency, safely and confidentially houses individuals and their children in one of three safe houses and offers a range of other support and services.
This partnership exemplifies what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared vision of access to care, dignity, and healing.
“The impact of Mobile HeaL’s presence at MMC goes beyond checkups and lab work — it sends a powerful message to survivors: your health matters, your life matters, and you are not alone,” said Ashlee Wolf, director of Philanthropy and Communication, Marjaree Mason Center. “We are deeply grateful for UCSF Fresno’s leadership and compassion, and proud to be part of a collaborative effort that treats survivors not just as patients or clients, but as whole people deserving of care, safety, and hope.”
