MyChart Login
MCHC Welcomes Bilingual Physician Assistant Monica Ruiz-Sosa
UKIAH, CA — MCHC Health Centers is pleased to welcome physician assistant Monica Ruiz-Sosa, a bilingual primary care provider who specializes in pediatrics and family medicine. She will see patients of all ages at Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport.
Born and raised in Ukiah, Ruiz-Sosa witnessed firsthand the need for more healthcare providers in this community, particularly those who speak Spanish. As a child, she often served as the translator for her parents and grandparents. Those experiences contributed to her belief that all patients deserve clear communication and high-quality care.
After graduating from Ukiah High School, Ruiz-Sosa attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in conservation and resource studies. She went on to work locally as a home health aide and a certified nursing assistant before returning to school to become a physician assistant. She completed a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at A.T. Still University in Santa Maria, and then clinical rotations in Missouri, before returning to Mendocino County.
“It’s a full circle moment to come back home as a professional,” she says.
“I want to use my passion to help people, especially the most vulnerable,” she says. “Medicine really gives you that ability to give back to others.”
Ruiz-Sosa believes healthcare is a basic human right and appreciates MCHC’s focus on providing care to everyone in the community, regardless of their background or insurance status.
“I have a big soft spot for working with uninsured folks, undocumented folks, formerly incarcerated people, and geriatric patients,” she says. “If someone feels like they are the odd person out, I want to help make sure their voice is being heard.”
Chief Medical Officer Justin Ebert says, “We are thrilled to add Monica to our Family Medicine team in Lakeport. As a Ukiah native, she brings with her a real passion for serving our community. Monica’s dedication to improving health and wellness through respect and education are in perfect alignment with the mission of MCHC.”
Ruiz-Sosa views herself as a partner in her patients’ health, prioritizing open communication and trust. “We are a team,” she says. “I can explain the options, but you know yourself best. You know your body best,” she says.
Ruiz-Sosa emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the challenges each patient faces. “For example, I can prescribe medication, but if you don’t have transportation to pick it up, we need to work around that,” she says.
When patients come in for an appointment, Ruiz-Sosa works to make the environment welcoming and free of judgment. She wants patients to know they can tell her how they are really doing, not just what they think a provider wants to hear.
“If a patient says they are taking their diabetes medication, for instance, but their body language suggests otherwise, I’ll ask them open-ended questions, like, ‘Can you explain any reasons why taking this medication might have been difficult?’”
This approach builds rapport and opens the door to better communication, improving overall health outcomes.
She is excited to join MCHC, noting how well their values of compassionate, high-quality care for all resonate with her own priorities. “I love that MCHC respects people and meets them where they are in life. They’re very mission-driven,” she says.
Outside of work, she likes to travel, play volleyball, cook, and unwind with family and friends.
MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.