The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic (SYTHC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary since opening in 1974.
“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.”
The clinic was founded by Pace, a Chumash community member and obstetric nurse, to help improve health care on the Santa Ynez Reservation.
Today, the tribe has state-of-the-art facilities to serve the local community and the general public, seeing more than 25,000 patients annually and continuing its healing traditions.
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, she added dental and social work services to the clinic, eventually retiring 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 legacy.
Founded in 1974, the Chumash Tribal Health Clinic is celebrating 50 years of serving the Santa Ynez Valley.
Nick Blazkowicz, contributing writer
“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,” he said.
Gary Pace said his mother was an early member of the Chumash tribal government, helped bring running water to the Santa Ynez Reservation and was influential in the tribe's gaming business.
“Tribal health clinics have always been her passion,” he said, “and my family is proud of the causes she stood for and we do our best to follow her example.”
Initially, they saw patients once a week out of a small two-bedroom trailer with running water and limited utilities. With tribal and community collaboration, and a grant from the Indian Health Service (IHS), the clinic was able to get much-needed water and move into 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 for tribal members and the broader community,” said Jaci Romero, chair of the SYTHC Health Committee. “We see patients from newborns to tribal elders and our doors are always open to anyone in need of medical care. Our services are expanding 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 services. Services are extensive and include family medicine, general dentistry, pediatrics, chiropractic, optometry, substance abuse programs, podiatry and behavioral health. Currently, the clinic has 19 providers and serves over 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.”
