Western Sierra started in 1975, when community-minded volunteers led by Frank Lang, Nurse Practitioner, MICN, opened a clinic in Downieville to serve the small town’s residents and tourists visiting the region. Under Lang’s leadership for more than 35 years, the clinic provided primary care services to the community.
In 1987, Dr. Dee Dawkins founded Miners Clinic in Nevada County with a small group of Board members from the community, Anthony Halby, Scott Browne, Lupe Peterson, Tom Morrissey and Anita Daniels. Dr. Dawkins and the Board committed to providing first-rate health care to people in the region who had no physician or inadequate health insurance, relying instead on the emergency room for their health care.
Dr. Dawkins and Dr. Scott Kellermann were instrumental in providing a home for Miners Clinic, which served low-income residents and others without access to outpatient health services. The two health centers, which shared a common goal of community-focused health care, merged in January 2010. The new, and larger organization, has expanded beyond the original mission of the founders.
Western Sierra’s new 19,000-square-foot health center in Grass Valley along with new health centers in Auburn, Penn Valley and Kings Beach-Tahoe, are the latest efforts to ensure our commitment to community-focused, quality health care. Western Sierra offers quality medical, dental and behavioral health care and continues to expand its specialties to meet the needs of the region’s residents, regardless of their income or insurance coverage.
Western Sierra serves Nevada, Placer, Sierra and Yuba counties, a foothill region that is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and those looking for a rural lifestyle. about the region woodsBiking, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking and many other outdoor activities are minutes away from Western Sierra. And some of the best downhill and cross-country skiing are less than an hour away at Lake Tahoe. Now, Nevada County and especially the Grass Valley-Nevada City area offer numerous amenities, including quaint downtown shopping districts, award-winning restaurants, friendly bars, pubs and local coffee shops, full-service grocery stores, a multi-screen theater and even a few Starbucks. There are even venues for performing and visual arts, including numerous art galleries. All of this, plus a rather easy commute — an average of about 20 minutes throughout the Western county, less if you live and work in Grass Valley.
The region has about 100,000 residents, with the Grass Valley-Nevada City area accounting for about 20 percent of the population. about the region - nevada cityHomes are still affordable in the region, with a median price in Nevada County of about $350,000 – about one-third lower than the statewide median, according to the California Association of Realtors. And if you are looking for some acreage for your dream home, well, there is plenty for sale. The median price in Placer County is about $430,000. Now, when you feel the need for a bigger city — and maybe a big-league ballgame or higher-end shopping — Grass Valley is close enough to several larger communities.
Our Auburn health centers are 15 minutes from Roseville, which boasts a 1.5 million-square-foot shopping center and is about 45 minutes away from Grass Valley. Sacramento is a little more than an hour drive from Grass Valley. Plus, Reno – the Biggest Little City – is about an hour. Of course, San Francisco is less than three hours away, depending on Bay Area traffic. If you really want to get away, Grass Valley is about an hour from the Sacramento and Reno international airports. Most major airlines serve these airports, including Southwest Airlines.
2010
Dr. Dawkins and Dr. Scott Kellermann were instrumental in providing a home for Miners Clinic, which served low-income residents and others without access to outpatient health services.
The two health centers, which shared a common goal of community-focused health care, merged in January 2010. The new, and larger organization, has expanded beyond the original mission of the founders.
Scott has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare field. He is proud to serve in his capacity as CEO, and is committed to the mission of the Western Sierra Medical Clinic. Ensuring everyone has access to quality care has always been part of his career. Since joining Western Sierra Medical Clinic in 2009 he has been an instrumental in the organization’s growth and success. Prior to WSMC he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Peach Tree Health Center where he was responsible for various operational responsibilities focused on organizational quality and financial sustainability. His healthcare experience includes operational and behavioral health positions within Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals and multi-specialty medical groups. Scott enjoys working closely with state and federal leaders organizing and advocating for strong systems of healthcare. Scott served as the Chair of the Board of the California Primary Care Association where he remains as a board and executive committee member, board member of the Clinic Mutual Insurance Collective (NorCal) and serves on the advisory council of UC Davis’ Rural Residency program. As a community leader and advocate for rural health, he is the Chair of the Health Alliance of Northern California, co-founder of the Placer-Nevada County Association of health providers, and a member of the Nevada County Health Collaborative. Scott is a strong believer in community partnership and empowers the WSMC leadership team to participate in collaborative projects that support the health and well being of the communities we serve. Mr. McFarland earned his Bachelors's degree in psychology from Long Beach State, his Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and his Masters in Business Administration from The University of Phoenix.Western Sierra’s executive team, headed by CEO Scott McFarland, manages the day-to-day operations.
This health center receives HHS funding and has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.