
Serving Humanity to Honor God
We are broadening the definition of health care beyond providing high-quality care when people are sick to address systemic inequities so that more people can reach their full potential for health and life.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries, CentroMed and Northern Hills United Methodist Church collaborate on new resource center for the community
San Antonio (January 24, 2025) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM), CentroMed, and Northern Hills United Methodist Church celebrated the opening of a new Ministry Center and Clinic on San Antonio’s North East side on Friday, January 24, 2025. The new ministry center and clinic create a place where local community members can find high-quality and affordable medical and dental services provided by CentroMed, as well as resources targeting social determinants of health through the Northern Hills Ministry Center.

The Northern Hills Ministry Center features a food pantry that offers a variety of dry goods, as well as produce, dairy, frozen meat, among other necessities. The food pantry serves 800 families and over 29,000 pounds of food each month. The center also provides community accompaniment through a team of Community Health Workers that walk with its members by following the determinants of health framework. Following the Methodist tradition, the center also provides pastoral care through counseling. The ministry center also has office space and a conference room available to community partners.
“Rooted in the social determinants of health, this ministry center is more than a provider of food and services–it is a space of accompaniment, a place where we walk together as a community,” said Manuel Padilla, Site Director at Northern Hills Ministry Center. “Here, support is not transactional, but transformational. Together with our community partners, we answer the call to make abundant life possible for everyone.”

The CentroMed Thousand Oaks Clinic is over 15,000 sq. ft. and offers Adult Medicine, Pediatric, Dental services, Laboratory, Behavioral Health, and Eligibility services. CentroMed’s Thousand Oaks Clinic began serving patients at this location on November 4, 2024, operating Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.
“We are thrilled to have this partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries which allows us the opportunity to expand and provide much needed healthcare services in this northeast community,” said Dr. Ernesto Gomez, President and Chief Executive Officer of CentroMed.
MHM provided funding for the construction of the facility, as well as operations funds. Additionally, An MHM Wesley Nurse is based out of the new Ministry Center and provides support to community members seeking assistance with services, such as health education, individualized diabetes education, referral assistance, facilitation of resources, and wellness classes.

“Creating a place that is safe, organized and well-equipped to meet the needs of a community is challenging and inspiring work,” said Alan Kramer, Chair-Elect of Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ board of directors. “We are honored to be a part of it and look forward to many years of continued success as we strive to advance health equity and create the conditions where families and communities can thrive.”
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals and families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About CentroMed
CentroMed is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center that was established in 1973 as El Centro del Barrio. CentroMed offers primary medical and dental care, behavioral health services, nutritional services, and other support services through a network of 30 sites located throughout San Antonio as well as Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe counties. Since 1999, CentroMed has received accreditation from The Joint Commission and was most recently reaccredited in 2023. CentroMed employs over 700 employees which includes physicians, dentists, mid-levels, counselors, dieticians, nurses and many other support staff. In 2023, CentroMed served 124,503 individuals by accommodating 418,581 patient visits. CentroMed is fortunate to receive financial support from various foundations such as Methodist Healthcare Ministries, as well as support from federal, state, and local partnerships. For additional information about CentroMed, visit www.centromedsa.com.
About Northern Hills United Methodist Church (NHUMC)
Northern Hills United Methodist Church (NHUMC) is a welcoming congregation in northeast San Antonio, Texas, rooted in the Methodist tradition of holistic care—mind, body, and spirit. Guided by its mission to "Reach, Teach, and Love," NHUMC creates a space for spiritual growth, community connection, and holistic thriving. With two campuses—the 1604 Campus and the Ministry Center—NHUMC offers traditional, contemporary, and bilingual (English and Spanish) worship services, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Beyond worship, NHUMC focuses on holistic well-being, addressing eight determinants of health: Thriving Natural World, Basic Needs for Health and Safety, Humane Housing, Meaningful Work and Wealth, Lifelong Learning, Reliable Transportation, Belonging and Civil Muscle, and Spiritual Wellness. Through intentional partnerships and community engagement, the church nurtures individuals to realize their God-given potential.
For more information, visit www.nhumc.org, Facebook, and Instagram.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries, CentroMed and Northern Hills United Methodist Church collaborate on new resource center for the community
San Antonio (January 24, 2025) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM), CentroMed, and Northern Hills United Methodist Church celebrated the opening of a new Ministry Center and Clinic on San Antonio’s North East side on Friday, January 24, 2025. The new ministry center and clinic create a place where local community members can find high-quality and affordable medical and dental services provided by CentroMed, as well as resources targeting social determinants of health through the Northern Hills Ministry Center.

The Northern Hills Ministry Center features a food pantry that offers a variety of dry goods, as well as produce, dairy, frozen meat, among other necessities. The food pantry serves 800 families and over 29,000 pounds of food each month. The center also provides community accompaniment through a team of Community Health Workers that walk with its members by following the determinants of health framework. Following the Methodist tradition, the center also provides pastoral care through counseling. The ministry center also has office space and a conference room available to community partners.
“Rooted in the social determinants of health, this ministry center is more than a provider of food and services–it is a space of accompaniment, a place where we walk together as a community,” said Manuel Padilla, Site Director at Northern Hills Ministry Center. “Here, support is not transactional, but transformational. Together with our community partners, we answer the call to make abundant life possible for everyone.”

The CentroMed Thousand Oaks Clinic is over 15,000 sq. ft. and offers Adult Medicine, Pediatric, Dental services, Laboratory, Behavioral Health, and Eligibility services. CentroMed’s Thousand Oaks Clinic began serving patients at this location on November 4, 2024, operating Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.
“We are thrilled to have this partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries which allows us the opportunity to expand and provide much needed healthcare services in this northeast community,” said Dr. Ernesto Gomez, President and Chief Executive Officer of CentroMed.
MHM provided funding for the construction of the facility, as well as operations funds. Additionally, An MHM Wesley Nurse is based out of the new Ministry Center and provides support to community members seeking assistance with services, such as health education, individualized diabetes education, referral assistance, facilitation of resources, and wellness classes.

“Creating a place that is safe, organized and well-equipped to meet the needs of a community is challenging and inspiring work,” said Alan Kramer, Chair-Elect of Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ board of directors. “We are honored to be a part of it and look forward to many years of continued success as we strive to advance health equity and create the conditions where families and communities can thrive.”
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals and families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About CentroMed
CentroMed is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center that was established in 1973 as El Centro del Barrio. CentroMed offers primary medical and dental care, behavioral health services, nutritional services, and other support services through a network of 30 sites located throughout San Antonio as well as Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe counties. Since 1999, CentroMed has received accreditation from The Joint Commission and was most recently reaccredited in 2023. CentroMed employs over 700 employees which includes physicians, dentists, mid-levels, counselors, dieticians, nurses and many other support staff. In 2023, CentroMed served 124,503 individuals by accommodating 418,581 patient visits. CentroMed is fortunate to receive financial support from various foundations such as Methodist Healthcare Ministries, as well as support from federal, state, and local partnerships. For additional information about CentroMed, visit www.centromedsa.com.
About Northern Hills United Methodist Church (NHUMC)
Northern Hills United Methodist Church (NHUMC) is a welcoming congregation in northeast San Antonio, Texas, rooted in the Methodist tradition of holistic care—mind, body, and spirit. Guided by its mission to "Reach, Teach, and Love," NHUMC creates a space for spiritual growth, community connection, and holistic thriving. With two campuses—the 1604 Campus and the Ministry Center—NHUMC offers traditional, contemporary, and bilingual (English and Spanish) worship services, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Beyond worship, NHUMC focuses on holistic well-being, addressing eight determinants of health: Thriving Natural World, Basic Needs for Health and Safety, Humane Housing, Meaningful Work and Wealth, Lifelong Learning, Reliable Transportation, Belonging and Civil Muscle, and Spiritual Wellness. Through intentional partnerships and community engagement, the church nurtures individuals to realize their God-given potential.
For more information, visit www.nhumc.org, Facebook, and Instagram.
San Antonio, TX (January 9, 2025) – Three community coalitions from across South Texas have been selected for the fourth cohort of Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ (MHM) Prosperemos Juntos | Thriving Together (PJTT) Implementation Phase. MHM has committed $4.6 million in funding over the next three years to enable the coalitions to advance their work. Earlier this year, the coalitions completed the six-month PJJT Learning Collaborative that began in March 2024. Through the Learning Collaborative, the coalitions explore various frameworks to equip themselves to develop and implement a health equity strategy with their community.
Launched in 2021, PJTT accompanies communities in their journey toward health equity. MHM believes communities hold the solutions to improve their health and well-being. The goal of the annual PJTT Learning Collaborative is to equip coalitions with skills and resources to shift power and address root causes of health equity using the Pathways to Population Health framework as a guide.
The coalitions are based in two geographic areas: the Mid-Border region (Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, LaSalle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde and Zavala counties), and the Laredo area (Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg counties). Coalitions funded in the implementation phase receive continued support through convenings, coaching, peer learning, funding and focused capacity-building. The support provided by MHM is for the purpose of advancing each coalition’s health equity strategy.
“Methodist Healthcare Ministries endeavors to advance health equity through the Prosperemos Juntos | Thriving Together program, which exemplifies our strategic focus of strengthening communities,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Seeing these coalitions move into the implementation phase is inspiring as we witnessed their deep level of engagement with the learning collaborative while they identified the solutions, they want to pursue for the people who live, work, pray, and play in the communities we all serve.”
The coalitions selected for this cohort include:
Mid-Border Region Coalitions
- Community Transformation Alliance
- Election Nerds LLC, Eagle Pass SAFE, Eagle Pass Firefighter Union Local 5490
- Manos Unidas
- MCHD Foundation, Organization for Disaster Relief, Consulado de México
Laredo Area Coalitions
- Fight Like a Kid
- Smiles From Heaven, Bondoc Security Services, South’s Boot Camp
The Manos Unidos coalition is located in Maverick County and is primarily focused on the issue of domestic violence. By improving the understanding of and delivery of available resources for individuals affected by domestic violence, the organizations in the coalition have come together to address this issue that impacts so many in their community. The coalition stated, “No one should live in fear. It is not acceptable, not inevitable, but together, we can make it stop.”
To advance to the Implementation Phase, the coalitions completed the Learning Collaborative in good standing and were then invited to apply for the Implementation Phase. This phase lasts three years, during which MHM will continue to support and journey alongside the coalitions as they implement their visions for healthy, thriving communities. Since 2022, MHM has committed nearly $24 million to support coalitions through the Implementation Phase.
For more information on the Prosperemos Juntos | Thriving Together Learning Collaborative, visit: https://www.mhm.org/thriving-communities/.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of health care by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals and families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
(San Antonio, TX October 29, 2024) – In 2024, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.(MHM) is seeking proposals from qualified partners to conduct an environmental scan and assist with a SWOT analysis to be utilized as key strategic planning inputs for its 74-county service area. Interested entities have until November 12 to submit a proposal.
The primary objective of the environmental scan is to systematically gather, analyze, and assess external environments to identify barriers and facilitators to health and well-being across MHM’s service area. By identifying both barriers and facilitators, the scan aims to inform the strategic plan as a priority, along with having some influence on policy and practice to better address well-being challenges within the community and priority areas.
The preferred approach will include identifying and analyzing external macro environmental factors impacting health outcomes utilizing the STEEPLE framework. As such, the successful environmental scan will include factors influencing public health outcomes including examining broader social, technological, economic, environmental, political, legal, and ethical trends and developments.
“This exciting project will go a long way to helping inform and direct where MHM directs its resources and attention in the coming years as we strive to fulfill our mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God,’” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
The resulting scan and analysis will be utilized, along with a SWOT analysis, for identifying new opportunities and prioritizing strategies that are in alignment with MHM’s focus on health equity. The partner selected will provide curated data, analysis, thought leadership, and recommendations to support the development and successful implementation of tools for strategic planning activities including goal setting, visioning, and prioritizing strategic initiatives.
To view the RFP, visit MHM.org or click here. Interested applicants with questions should contact Sandra Martinez, Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships at smartinez@mhm.org.
MHM believes that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” it must recognize the inequities inherent in its communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Health Equity is both the process and goal by which MHM seeks to carry out that purpose. Health Equity is a framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunities for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of health care by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
SAN ANTONIO (October 11) – Nutrition management startup Yumlish took home first place at last night’s Demo Day pitch competition presented by VelocityTX and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. The event, which featured five startups from the US and Canada, marked the culmination of the inaugural Community Health Accelerator, an entrepreneurial development program aimed at advancing early-stage companies with innovations that address the social determinants of health.
Competing for the opportunity to pilot their technologies with Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the cohort companies made a five-minute pitch, followed by questions from the panel judges, which included Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Board Members Erika Prosper and Ashley Hixon, VelocityTX Board Chairman Preston Woolfolk and Methodist Healthcare Ministries President & CEO Jaime Wesolowski.

“We have worked hard to create an accessible solution for Spanish-speaking communities, and we are so excited that MHM recognizes the value of our work and the impact it can have on diabetes prevalence in the RGV community,” said Yumlish Founder and CEO Shireen Abdullah.
Administered by VelocityTX, the Community Health Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind program designed to help companies develop solutions that address the non-medical factors influencing health outcomes. Over the course of the program, the startups worked closely with experts on topics such as market strategy, fundraising, and pitching, with the goal of preparing them for successful growth and deployment.
“We are incredibly proud of Yumlish and their commitment to improving community wellness,” said Rene Dominguez, President and CEO of VelocityTX. “The solutions presented today demonstrate the power of innovation to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, and we look forward to seeing the impact Yumlish will have in the months and years ahead.”
Speaking at the Carver Community Cultural Center after the event, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ President & CEO Jaime Wesolowski, remarked, “We are excited to see the fruits of this partnership with VelocityTX become a reality by creating a hub of innovation that launches improvement in the social determinants of health for years to come. This partnership is propelling innovation and sustainable solutions at the intersection of business and community impact that can transform healthcare delivery for those most in need. We believe that Yumlish has the potential to create lasting impact, and we are excited to partner with them in this next phase of their journey.”
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About VelocityTX
Formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, VelocityTX is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to promote sustainable economic and community growth. In carrying out this mission, the organization seeks to advance San Antonio’s life sciences industry through the development of a state-of-the-art bioscience innovation campus on the city's near east side. Based out of the former Merchants Ice & Cold Storage complex, the master planned development will bring together established bioscience companies, healthcare startups, and military medical research organizations in an inclusive community where ideas collide to spur medical breakthroughs. VelocityTX also promotes workforce development through its Step Into STEM program, and provides entrepreneurial support services designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging medical technologies. Learn more at velocitytx.org.