Investing in Health – Inside and Beyond the Exam Room: Gould Medical Group

Founded in 1948, Gould Medical Group is a Modesto-based multispecialty physician group with more than 500 providers serving patients across the Central Valley. As the group continued to grow, its physician leaders began asking a simple but profound question: How can we, as a medical community, do more to strengthen the region we call home?

That question led to the formation of a philanthropy committee to explore how the group’s collective impact could extend beyond clinical walls. Through this process, the physicians discovered that a Corporate Advised Fund offered the most effective way to align their charitable goals with community needs. After researching different foundations and interviewing with a commercial institution, they ultimately chose to partner with Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF). “SCF is local, and its staff is deeply connected to the community. The experience is just so much more personal,” Dr. Roger Elias, Chair of the philanthropy committee, explained. [cut-off here for e-news]

In December 2024, The Gould Medical Group Fund was launched, and its impact quickly began taking shape. Working closely with the SCF team, the group identified key areas where their philanthropy could play a role in improving the health of our community. As physicians, they have witnessed firsthand how challenges like food insecurity or unstable housing directly impacts their patients’ well‑being. Those insights led to the creation of a grant cycle, where nonprofits addressing social determinants of health could apply for funding. “Health isn’t created in exam rooms alone. By supporting nonprofits meeting basic needs, we are helping our patients long before they walk through our doors,” shared Dr. Elias. In its first grant cycle, the fund awarded $60,000 to four nonprofits meeting these needs across Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

But addressing the root causes of health disparities in our community is only one part of Gould Medical Group’s strategy. Understanding that long term community health also depends on a strong, stable healthcare workforce, the group established a companion scholarship fund to help grow the next generation of local doctors. In 2025, the Gould Medical Group Scholarship Fund awarded five students $10,000 each, supporting their path to medical school and encouraging them to return to serve the Central Valley.

Peter Nguyen, a Gould Medical Group Scholarship recipient, shared, "The Gould Medical Group Scholarship has been nothing short of transformative for my journey at UC Merced. By alleviating the financial burden of student loans and the need for multiple jobs, the Foundation provided me the flexibility to focus entirely on my pre-medical education and professional development. This support allowed me to conduct vital research into health issues affecting our Valley communities, such as Valley Fever and air pollution in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties, while also serving as an instructional assistant for my peers in molecular biology. I am deeply grateful for this investment in my future as I work toward medical school at UCSF Fresno and eventually serving the Valley as a future physician."

The healthcare system in the Central Valley isn’t perfect – it will take time to close gaps in access and train new physicians. But through a combined strategy of addressing immediate needs while investing in future clinicians, Gould Medical Group is helping create a healthier, more resilient region. Dr. Elias shared, “As our communities continue to grow, so must the opportunities that strengthen access to care for the people who need it the most.”