DR. ARTEAGA AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY

(San Bernardino, Calif.) Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, was recently awarded the San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Arteaga is recognized for his efforts to provide health services to Inland Empire children. (www.lasallemedical.com.)
The award was presented during the San Bernardino County Medical Association’s Installation of Officers and Outstanding Awards dinner at the Mission Inn, in Riverside during the San Bernardino County Medical Societies annual installation banquet and awards dinner.
“I accept this award not just for me but for the 124 doctors, nurses, and staff at LaSalle’s five clinics. This is recognition of the entire companies dedication to our patients and our communities,” said Arteaga.
“The award represents an endorsement by the medical society of the work we have been doing,” Arteaga said. “It shows we are appreciated and well regarded by our peers.”
Arteaga has offered free health care for Hurricane Katrina survivors, donated funds to local pastors towards hurricane relief and served as commissioner for First 5 and Children and Families Commission.
Born in San Diego, Arteaga grew up in various locations following his father, a Seventh-day Adventist minister. Arteaga’s family also lived in Argentina while his father was doing missionary work. Arteaga spent four and half years in northern Mexico.
As the son of a minister, Arteaga is dedicated to providing the best health care possible for his patients. He also demands his staff, from the receptionist to the doctors, treat people with the dignity, compassion and respect.
“It has always been our policy to help families in need. Since I have been in practice we have never turned away a patient because they could not pay. As the son of an Adventist minister I know that I have an obligation to help whenever I can. That is what we do,” Arteaga said.
This is not the first time LaSalle Medical Associates has been honored by local healthy agencies. The clinics are also recognized for their quality of service. LaSalle Medical Associates was selected by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) as Riverside and San Bernardino’s best health care provider.
The African American Health Initiative also selected LaSalle as a model provider in a two-year study of Black healthcare in San Bernardino County. LaSalle is also the state’s number one enroller of Healthy Families, an insurance program for children and teens from low to mid-income families. The program provides medical, dental and vision coverage for children without insurance.
What’s next? Arteaga is currently completing the creation of a nonprofit foundation to further his vision to help underserved communities receive quality healthcare. “We envision that the LaSalle Foundation will help pay for healthcare serves for children and the elderly who cannot be covered by any other insurance program.
Arteaga opened his first clinic in Fontana and expanded into San Bernardino in 1988. Formed in 1996, LaSalle Medical Associates is currently one of the largest independent practice association’s in San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties. The company has clinics in San Bernardino, Fontana, Hesperia and Lake Elsinore.
The father of three adopted children Arteaga lives in Grand Terrace with his with wife _______ son and youngest daughter. The Arteaga’s eldest daughter eldest attend the University of ________ in (city State.) She is studying to be a ___________.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates contact (909) 890-0407. or go to www.lasallemedical.com.