The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic (SYTHC) on the Santa Ynez Reservation, located at 90 Via Juana Lane in Santa Ynez, is celebrating its 50th anniversary since opening in 1974.
The clinic was founded by Chumash community member and obstetric nurse Rosa Pace with the goal of improving health care on the Santa Ynez Reservation.
A tile panel featuring tribal symbols welcomes visitors to the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic. (Courtesy photo)
Today, the tribe continues to provide healing traditions to the local community and the general public in a state-of-the-art facility, serving more than 25,000 patients annually.
“We've come a long way since our beginning and we're proud of all the services we provide,” said Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn of the Santa Ynez Tribe of Chumash. “When my grandmother, Rosa Pace, had a vision, there was no stopping her.”
Pace was instrumental in establishing the first Urban Indian Health Clinic on Milpas Street in Santa Barbara and secured the grant money necessary to open a clinic on the Santa Ynez Reservation in 1974.
During her tenure, Pace added dental and social care services to the clinic until her retirement in 2000. She passed away in 2015 at the age of 86.
Gary Pace, a member of the tribe's business committee and Rosa Pace's son, reflected on his mother's incredible legacy.
“My mother, Rosa Pace, was always focused on providing a better, sustainable future for her tribal peers and the community, and it's wonderful to see her efforts continue today,” Gary Pace said.
“She was an early member of our tribal government. She helped with the effort to bring running water to the Santa Ynez Reservation and she was influential in the tribe's gaming operations,” he said.
“But the Tribal Health Clinic was always her passion. My family is proud of her beliefs and we do our best to follow her example,” he said.
Initially, they served patients once a week in a small two-bedroom trailer with running water and limited amenities.
With tribal and community collaboration, and a grant from the Indian Health Service (IHS), the clinic was able to secure the water they needed and transition to a newer, larger trailer.
In 2002, the current facility was built on the Upper Reserve to expand the size and capacity of the clinic.
“The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic is a community-focused facility serving tribal members and the entire community,” said Jaci Romero, SYTHC Health Committee Chair.
“We see patients from newborns to tribal elders and our doors are always open to those in need of medical care,” Romero said. “Our services have expanded to meet the needs of our patients and provide excellent, quality care.”
SYTHC's mission is to provide the highest quality health care while respecting cultural values and incorporating best practices for all.
Led by a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists, dentists and social workers, the clinic provides medical, dental, behavioral health, community and social service services.
Services are extensive and include general family care, general dentistry, pediatrics, chiropractic, optometry, substance abuse programs, podiatry and behavioral health.
Currently, the clinic has 19 physicians and serves more than 8,900 patients.
“I am most proud of the work we do to serve our entire community,” Kahn said, “and I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude to our physicians and administrative staff, past and present, who have worked so hard to support our patients every day over the years.”
SYTHC is an independent subsidiary whose mission is to specialize in the highest standards of quality health care through modern medicine and cultural traditions.
The clinic is funded through a variety of grants, including IHS, and has achieved mature contractor status with IHS and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The clinic is certified as an FQHC-like Medi-Cal/Medicare facility and is one of the few health facilities in Santa Barbara County accredited by the Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC).
For more information about SYTHC and its services, call 805-688-7070 or visit www.sythc.org
