Ventura County Medical Center Dedicates New Breast Health Center Expanding Access to Life-Saving Care

A new Breast Health Center is now open at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), bringing expanded mammography services, cutting-edge diagnostic technology, and evening and weekend appointment slots to one of the region's busiest public hospitals — changes that will be felt most directly by women in South Oxnard and other underserved communities who rely on the county's safety-net system for their care.

VCMC held a formal dedication ceremony on May 29, 2026, according to Vida Newspaper, marking the official launch of the center and bringing together hospital leadership, community stakeholders, and representatives from the grant-making partner that made it possible.

A $2 Million Investment in Women's Health

The project was financed through a $2,034,969 award from Gold Coast Health Plan's Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability and Equity (RISE) grant program, which the Camarillo-based Medi-Cal managed care plan announced in June 2025 as part of a broader, three-year, $21.9 million initiative to strengthen Ventura County's healthcare infrastructure, as Gold Coast Health Plan reported. The grant was actually awarded to the Health Care Foundation for Ventura County (HCFVC), which served as the project lead on VCMC's behalf, with Amy Towner, the foundation's CEO, describing it as a way to "break down long-standing barriers to care for thousands of women in Ventura County, particularly in Hispanic and Indigenous communities," according to an EIN Presswire release.

The VCMC project was one of 16 selected in the inaugural RISE grant cycle, which distributed $11.3 million in its first year through a competitive process managed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Gold Coast Health Plan confirmed.

What's New Inside the Center

The upgrades go well beyond a simple renovation. The center now features a second mammography machine equipped with AI-assisted breast density assessment software, expanded diagnostic ultrasound capabilities, and a state-of-the-art stereotactic biopsy table with specimen imaging technology to improve biopsy efficiency, Vida Newspaper reported. Hospital spaces were also renovated and repurposed to create a more welcoming, modern, and patient-centered environment.

Beyond the technology, the operational changes may matter just as much to patients. The center now offers evening and weekend mammography appointments — a significant shift for working families who previously had to take time off from jobs to access weekday-only screening slots. Dedicated patient navigation support will guide patients from arrival through appointment completion, easing the burden on those who may be navigating the healthcare system in a second language or for the first time.

"Gold Coast Health Plan's RISE grants were designed to strengthen health care access for Medi-Cal members throughout Ventura County," said Erik Cho, Gold Coast Health Plan's Chief Policy and Program Officer. "Through our investment in the Breast Health Center at VCMC, women in our community will benefit from advanced technology, increased capacity, and reduced wait times — all of which will lead to improved health outcomes."

Why Oxnard Residents Stand to Benefit Most

The stakes for South Oxnard and neighboring communities are particularly high. More than 80% of VCMC's patients are enrolled in Medi-Cal or Medicare, with many residing in under-resourced communities such as South Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Fillmore, according to the Health Care Foundation for Ventura County's announcement. VCMC itself describes this population as its core mission: the hospital's "safety net" patients — those who are uninsured, underinsured, or on public coverage — comprise over three-quarters of all care provided there, according to VCMC's own website.

The new center also directly targets one of the county's most pressing public health challenges. Cancer remains the leading cause of death among women in Ventura County, with cancer deaths rising every year from 2021 to 2023, the Ojai Valley News reported citing county health data. The initiative directly addresses a priority identified in the 2025 Ventura County Community Health Priority Areas: disparities in women's health, breast cancer incidence rates, and age-adjusted death rates due to breast cancer, according to Ventura Breeze.

"Breast cancer remains the most pervasive form of cancer among women, and we believe that every woman deserves a fair chance at early detection," said Dr. Felix Nuñez, Gold Coast Health Plan's CEO.

Hospital Leadership Calls It a Milestone

VCMC and Santa Paula Hospital CEO Danielle Gable, DNP, RN, CENP, called the opening "an important milestone for healthcare in Ventura County" and emphasized the hospital's commitment to bringing high-quality services closer to home for residents who have historically had to travel or wait for access. Gable was appointed to lead both VCMC and Santa Paula Hospital in May 2026, just weeks before the Breast Health Center dedication.

Matt McGill, VCMC's Director of Imaging Services, said the grant allowed the hospital to turn an existing vision into reality. "Grant opportunities like this from Gold Coast Health Plan are especially important because they allow for a targeted collaboration where our vision to provide enhanced breast health services can be realized for a community that deserves access to high quality health care," McGill said.

How to Access the New Center

Women seeking mammograms, diagnostic ultrasound, or biopsy services at the new VCMC Breast Health Center can find scheduling information and details about available services through the Ventura County Health Care Agency website at hca.venturacounty.gov. Gold Coast Health Plan administers Medi-Cal benefits to more than 250,000 beneficiaries across Ventura County, meaning a large share of Oxnard residents are already covered for these services at VCMC.