Maria Valdez is a native of Mexico City and has lived in Los Angeles, California since 1973. Maria has worked for Federally Funded Health Center’s for a span of 32 years. Maria spent 11 years providing direct patient care as a Medical Assistant, rotating through several specialties such as Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 2002 Maria became a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and joined an Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Program for Women.
Maria became Program Director and began working with the Los Angeles County, she assisted women in recovery with a focus on family reunification. In 2006 Maria returned to primary healthcare, focusing on her true passion; Women’s Health, she was the Director of Women’s Health Programs for ten years at Clinica Monsenor Oscar Romero, where she worked to develop and implement service programs for women of child bearing age. In 2012 Maria continued her focus on Women’s’ Health as the Perinatal Program Coordinator for Altamed Health Services, where she served as the primary liaison between Altamed and local delivery hospitals. She worked to ensure patients received high quality of care and maintain retention with Altamed services.
Maria joined Via Care Community Health Center in 2015 and began her role as Director of Operations, while providing support in the areas of Women’s Health, Quality Improvement and Compliance. Maria is currently the Chief Compliance Officer at Via Care Community Health Center where she continues her dedication in serving her community with the belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Maria serves on the California State Title X Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health at Essential Access, a program that helps support access of family planning services to low-income patients nationwide. She was recently appointed Chair for the Compliance Officer Peer Network for California Primary Care Association, the statewide leader and recognized voice representing the interests of California’s community health centers and their patients. Maria attended UCLA for Certification in Healthcare Administration, Maria is married, has three sons, and two grandchildren, she considers her family her life blessing.
