Medical center opens in Fresno’s ‘medical desert’ west of Highway 99
A United Health Centers has opened its doors to patients northwest of Highway 99 in Fresno, an area often described as a “healthcare desert.”
Before November 2025, only one clinic was serving the area’s over 50,000 residents.
Located at 3652 W. Shields Ave., the new 10,070-square-foot UHC facility offers medical, dental, behavioral health, chiropractic, women’s health, X-ray and laboratory services. It opened to patients on Nov. 19.
“The opening of Fresno Shields represents an important investment in the health and well-being of the West Fresno community,” said Justin Preas, president and CEO of United Health Centers. “This new site allows us to continue meeting patients where they are and ensuring access to essential healthcare services.”
UHC is a network of community health centers that primarily serve underserved communities in California’s central San Joaquin Valley. The opening of the new Shields clinic marks UHC’s 40th location in the Valley and 16th in Fresno.
Individuals with Medi-Cal, Medicare and most insurance plans are eligible for care. Additionally, those without insurance can receive service through a sliding-fee scale program, which is based on their ability to pay.
Another UHC location in Fresno, southwest of Highway 99, opened on Nov. 3 at 122 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd., an area also in need of comprehensive healthcare services.
West Fresno has historically been a place with limited investment, other than heavy industrial, leading to economic and health disparities compared to other parts of the city.
West Fresnans live in one of California’s most polluted neighborhoods, surrounded by industry, freeways and rail lines, and life expectancy is more than 20 years lower than in northeast Fresno, according to a 2012 study done by a team of researchers, including the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at Fresno State.
The community organization, Highway City Community Development, has been working to break down healthcare, economic and community barriers in the area since 1997.
“This area is constantly forgotten,” Executive Director April Henry said.
The HCCD provides a monthly free health clinic for anyone in the community. January’s clinic served about 40 youth in the span of three hours, mostly to provide physicals, allowing kids to participate in sports at school.
Henry said the opening of the Shields health center is a start, but it does not cover the entire need of the community.
“This is just a great launch pad, so I’m glad to see them here, and hope that we continue to have conversations and continue to grow,” she said.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 1:21 PM.