Celebrating Healthcare Leaders: Blue Shield's Leading the Way Awards in San Diego
Leading the Way: Honoring Healthcare Leaders in San Diego
On November 13, 2025, the Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan hosted its annual "Leading the Way Awards" dinner at The Prado in Balboa Park. This year, over 30 individuals and organizations were celebrated for their exceptional efforts to address and meet the diverse health needs of San Diego County residents. The evening was a testament to the compassion and dedication displayed by these healthcare champions.
In her opening remarks, Kristen Cerf, the President and CEO of Blue Shield Promise, emphasized the significant role that the award recipients play in enhancing health access, promoting health equity, and ensuring quality care for the inhabitants of San Diego. "The winners of our Leading the Way Award are champions of patient care and innovation," Cerf remarked. "Their commitment guarantees that Medi-Cal members and San Diego residents receive high-quality services that allow them to lead active and healthy lives. They truly make a difference in our community."
This year, awards were presented in various categories, including Distinguished Service,
Wellness and Empowerment, Youth Engagement and Resilience, Equitable Access to Health, and Quality Medical Care. The evening's top honors, the Visionary Awards, were given to SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) from Chula Vista and Fernando Sañudo, CEO of Vista Community Clinic. Both recipients embody an extraordinary commitment to fulfilling the health needs of San Diego's residents over five decades.
Kathryn Lembo, Executive Director of SBCS, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, "We are deeply honored to receive this award from Blue Shield Promise. It is a powerful affirmation of our unwavering commitment to meet the urgent needs of our community with heart, urgency, and determination." She continued, "Every step we take is guided by compassion and responsibility, not just to our funders but to every individual and family we serve. We believe in creating lasting change and take pride in helping our communities grow stronger, more resilient, and hopeful."
Fernando Sañudo echoed similar sentiments regarding the collective strength of Vista Community Clinic in achieving their organizational goals. "The success of Vista Community Clinic has never relied on a single individual but on the collaborative strength of a dedicated team driven by compassion, excellence, and community service," he noted. He praised the importance of community health centers, stating, "They are not just clinics; they are engines of hope, resilience, and equity working daily to transform lives and uplift entire communities. Thank you, Blue Shield Promise, for this incredible honor."
Cerf concluded the ceremony by reiterating the crucial partnerships formed with local leaders committed to improving healthcare in San Diego. "Our mission is fundamental, and we cannot accomplish it alone. It is a genuine privilege to collaborate with dedicated local leaders like Fernando Sañudo and organizations like SBCS, along with many others dedicated to enhancing health care in San Diego. This award is just a small token of recognition they all truly deserve."
Blue Shield Promise Health Plan's Leading the Way Award Winners 2025
- - Visionary Award
- Fernando Sañudo, Executive Director, Vista Community Clinic
- - Distinguished Service Awards
- Blanca Fresno, MD
- Chris Gordon, MD, MBA
- Mumtaz Almansour, MD
- Francisco Recalde, MD
- Gina Rosenfeld, MD, FAAP
- Joe Sepulveda, MD, ABPN, ABPM, FAPA, FASAM
- Group Awards:
- Family Health Centers of San Diego for Outreach to Homeless Populations
- La Maestra Community Health Centers for Outreach to Justice Involved Populations
- San Diego American Indian Health Center for Youth Outreach and Teen Center
- San Ysidro Health for Outreach to Communities Impacted by San Diego Wildfires
- TrueCare for Outreach to Communities Impacted by San Diego Wildfires
- Vista Community Clinic for Outreach to Migrant Populations
- - Equitable Access to Health
- Deaf Community Services
- Episcopal Community Services
- San Diego Regional Center
- Serving Seniors
- - Wellness and Empowerment
- Sharia's Closet
- Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO)
- Think Dignity
- Voices of Our City
- - Youth Engagement and Resilience
- Community Wraparound
- North County LGBTQ Resource Center
- San Diego Youth Services
- Teens Rise Foundation
- transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project
- Youth Empowerments Finest
- - Quality Medical Care
- Vista Community Clinic, member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, highest performance (medium group) and the highest percentage of measures meeting the 90th percentile
- San Diego Family Care, member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, highest performance (small group) tied in the highest percentage of measures meeting the 75th percentile
- Neighborhood Healthcare, member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California tied in the highest percentage of measures reaching the 75th percentile
- La Maestra Community Health Centers, awarded for the most improved percentage of measures equal to or exceeding the 50th percentile.
About Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is a managed care organization solely owned by Blue Shield of California, offering the Managed Medi-Cal program. Driven by healthcare professionals, it upholds a
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