Sutter East Bay Medical Group clinicians celebrated the medical group’s 20th anniversary at the annual picnic in August, honoring teamwork and patient-centered care.

by Pooja Nerkar, Vitals contributor

Twenty years ago, a small group of independent clinicians across the East Bay came together with a shared idea, that patients deserve connected, compassionate care delivered close to home.

What began in 2005 as a network of 43 clinicians in 10 specialties has grown into a thriving community of more than 550 physicians and advanced practice clinicians serving patients in communities across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

“From the beginning, Sutter East Bay Medical Group has been about independent practices coming together to build something better: to improve access to care, create programs and strengthen care transitions for patients,” said Dr. Arzou Ahsan, president and CEO of Sutter East Bay Medical Group. “That spirit of collaboration and community has guided us from day one and continues to shape our future.”

Connected Growth Rooted in Community

Over two decades, the medical group has expanded its reach and purpose, building care that is both comprehensive and local. It continues to attract clinicians dedicated to increasing patient access across the region.

This year alone, more than 80 clinicians joined the group, helping meet growing demand across the region.

Primary care remains central to that growth, with a new pediatric site in Orinda and expanded access in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, Richmond, Castro Valley, Antioch and Brentwood. Specialty services, including gastroenterology, behavioral health, oncology, orthopedics, women’s health and cardiovascular care, have also expanded, reflecting the medical group’s commitment to bringing integrated care closer to home.

“We’re proud to grow with the needs of our community,” said Dr. Pavithra Venkat, obstetrician-gynecologist and executive medical director of Women’s Health at Sutter East Bay Medical Group. “From the new Adeline Care Center in Berkeley to our Lafayette Women’s Services Clinic, we’re creating spaces where women can feel seen, supported and cared for at every stage of life.”

Innovation and Integration in Specialty Care

Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center’s Mobile Mammography Vehicle brings screening mammography to the community.

The medical group’s expansion across specialties is guided by one goal: to make expert, connected care accessible to every patient in the East Bay. For example, the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland has been a cornerstone of breast health services since 2008 and is evolving into a regional center of excellence. The center is working to expand access to advanced diagnostics, individualized patient navigation, and community partnerships through innovative programs. One example of this is the mobile mammography vehicle which brings state-of-the-art screening mammography to women in the East Bay communities in which they live and work.

“We’re building a stronger network of cancer care, one that guides patients through every step of their journey with compassion and connection,” said Dr. Rita Kwan-Feinberg, breast surgeon at Sutter East Bay Medical Group. Our goal is to remove barriers, ease fears and deliver advanced care close to home, so no one faces cancer alone.”

The continuum of care will expand further in November 2026 with the opening of the Stanford Medicine Sutter Health Cancer Center on the Oakland campus of Alta Bates Summit. The five-story, 167,000-square-foot facility will serve as a regional hub for infusion services, outpatient clinics, a breast health clinic, imaging, radiation oncology, physician offices and an ambulatory surgery center—along with expanded access to clinical trials and holistic patient support.

Investing in the Future

Sutter Health’s $1 billion East Bay expansion, including the new 12-acre Sutter Emeryville Yards, supports the medical group’s continued growth. The site will feature an ambulatory care campus and 200-bed hospital, with outpatient services opening in 2028 and the hospital projected to open in 2032. Nearly 200 Sutter East Bay Medical Group clinicians are expected to staff the new facility.

An aerial view of the future Sutter Emeryville Campus location

“This plan ensures our East Bay patients have seamless access to the full spectrum of Sutter’s integrated services—from primary and specialty outpatient care to imaging, lab and diagnostic services, to ambulatory surgery, urgent care, and inpatient services at the new Sutter Emeryville campus,” said Dr. Ahsan.

The investment extends beyond infrastructure to people. The medical group is helping shape the next generation of clinicians through community partnerships, mentorship, and education. In collaboration with Alta Bates Summit, the medical group helped launch the hospital’s first internal medicine residency in 2024, with an obstetrics and gynecology residency set to begin in 2026. Sutter East Bay Medical Group clinicians make up the majority of the core faculty.

Through the Sutter East Bay Medical Group Sutter Health Scholarship for Success, launched in 2021, the group has also supported nearly 30 local students pursuing healthcare careers.

“Mentorship and representation matter,” said Dr. Alden McDonald, cardiologist and director of Inclusion and Impact at Sutter East Bay Medical Group. “When students see clinicians who look like them and come from their communities, it changes what they believe is possible. Our scholarship and mentorship programs are building a workforce that reflects the strength and vitality of the East Bay.”

By nurturing clinicians at every stage of their journey, the medical group is not only preparing the next generation of caregivers but also upholding the vision that shaped its first 20 years: to be the place where the best employees want to work, the best clinicians want to practice, and communities want to receive care.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Next 20 Years

This milestone marks both a moment of reflection and a launch point for the years ahead. With expanding programs, new clinical sites and continued investment in innovation and its people, Sutter East Bay Medical Group is shaping the next chapter of patient-centered care in the East Bay.

“Our story is about connections, culture, and community,” said Dr. Charu Puri, Executive Medical Director of People and Culture at Sutter East Bay Medical Group. “The medical group’s purpose has always been to serve our community through excellent, compassionate care. We’re dedicated to improving the quality of life for our patients, colleagues, and each other through inclusivity, innovation, courage, and practicing excellent medicine. That’s the SEBMG way.”

“As we look to the next 20 years,” Dr. Puri added, “we’ll keep leading with grit, collaboration and purpose. We’ve grown stronger, and together, we’ll continue to redefine what it means to care for our community.”