The Community Service, Education and Research Fund (CSERF) received the 2024 California Medical Association (CMA) Compassionate Service Award at the association’s annual House of Delegates this weekend in Sacramento. The award honors physicians or organizations who best illustrate the association’s commitment to community and charity care.

CSERF was established in 1966 as a 501(c)(3) charity of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society (SSVMS). CSERF has been at the forefront of numerous community initiatives aimed at increasing access to health care, improving health outcomes, advocating for mental health, promoting opioid safety, and nurturing the future health care workforce. These programs highlight CSERF’s dedication to health care access, education, and community well-being.

One of CSERF's cornerstone programs is the SPIRIT program. Since its inception in 1995, the SPIRIT program has made a profound impact on the Sacramento region by providing free medical services to uninsured patients, particularly in the realm of specialty care. Through the dedication of more than 100 volunteer physicians, SPIRIT has delivered over $13 million in free care, conducted more than 1,500 surgeries and procedures, and has accumulated over 45,000 volunteer hours.

SPIRIT has provided free care to over 55,000 patients in need of cataract surgery, hernia repair and numerous other non-emergency conditions. All services, including the physician’s time, anesthesia and the hospital or clinical facility, are donated, and patients never receive a bill.

The program operates through funding from grants and donations from various groups and individuals and enjoys substantial support from local health systems such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, Sutter Health and UC Davis Health. These health systems contribute by providing donated specialty consultations and procedures.

Additionally, CSERF has recruited many volunteer physicians, particularly those recently retired, to see uninsured patients one day a month at the Sacramento County Health Clinic. This initiative has expanded access to specialists such as neurologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, urologists, and physical therapists for Sacramento County Healthy Partners patients.

By providing the specialty care that these patients desperately need, SPIRIT has successfully kept them out of emergency departments, thereby reducing the burden of overcrowding, increasing access to emergency care for others, and preventing further increases in health care costs. This has made a significant difference in the lives of many patients and has contributed to the overall wellbeing of our community.

CSERF’s SPIRIT program exemplifies the spirit of compassionate service. It addresses critical health care needs for uninsured patients and significantly impacts the Sacramento region. The tireless efforts of the SPIRIT program’s volunteers and supporters are truly deserving of the 2024 Compassionate Service Award.

CMA is proud to recognize the CSERF’s SPIRIT programfor its unwavering commitment to improving health care access and outcomes for the most vulnerable members of our community.