Adventist Health: ''Central Valley Physician Appointed to Statewide Roles''

Central Valley Physician Appointed to Statewide Roles 

Rural family medicine physician Raul Ayala, MD, MHCM, to inform issues — from healthcare access to patient care — for California’s communities 

CENTRAL VALLEY, CA — Physicians at Adventist Health, California’s largest rural healthcare system, are shaping healthcare access across the state. Raul Ayala, MD, MHCM, a family medicine physician in the Central Valley, has seen the difference quality healthcare can make in a rural area and will take on new leadership roles to strengthen the health of California communities. 

The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has appointed Dr. Ayala to California’s Rural Health Policy Council (RHPC). The Council will also serve as a public forum for rural health stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) program. This program aims to address rural health disparities, workforce shortages in hospitals, and geographic barriers to timely treatment. 

A dedicated, rural family medicine physician, Dr. Ayala applies Adventist Health’s “whole-person care” in every clinic visit, including the appropriate screenings and care plans to improve the well-being of each patient. As ambulatory medical officer for Adventist Health Central California and designated institutional official for the organization’s Graduate Medical Education program, Dr. Ayala goes beyond clinical care to connect, educate, and engage healthcare providers and advocate on meaningful issues with policymakers and community members. 

In addition, the California Medical Association (CMA), comprised of more than 50,000 physicians, has named Dr. Ayala to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. In this role, he will serve as an essential link between the AMA and California physicians, helping to build a better future for medicine and improve patient care. 

“I am honored to serve in these capacities on behalf of Adventist Health as we strive to improve access to care for patients, address reimbursement issues for hospitals and clinics, and bring awareness to the challenges facing physicians across our state,” says Dr. Ayala. 

In addition to serving as ambulatory medical officer for more than 130 clinics across Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties, Dr. Ayala served as the first president of the California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) from the Central Valley. He was recognized in 2020 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) as the California Community Star. 

“We are grateful that Dr. Ayala is sharing his expertise as a physician to strengthen healthcare access and build a healthier future for California’s rural communities,” says James Burke, MD, Adventist Health’s system chief medical officer. 

All RHPC meetings will be open to the public, and HCAI will allow individuals to provide comments directly to the Council.