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MCHC Welcomes Obstetrician-Gynecologist Dr. James Paul Maganito
UKIAH, CA — MCHC Health Centers continues to expand its services to meet local health needs. In September, MCHC welcomed obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. James Paul “JP” Maganito, who will see patients at Hillside Health Center in Ukiah.
Maganito comes to the clinic with a wealth of experience and an interest in healthcare that began in childhood, when many of his adult family members were nurses. His dream was to become a doctor, but the cost of medical school seemed insurmountable given his background. When he was a child, his family immigrated to the United States from the Philippines with very few financial resources. But when he told his mother he would pursue a career with fewer obstacles, she disagreed.
“She told me, no,” he says. “‘If what you really want is to be a doctor, be a doctor,’” Maganito recalls her saying.
Medical school became possible when Maganito was selected as a National Health Service Corps scholar after earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with a minor in education from the University of California, Davis. In this highly competitive program, students receive financial support for their medical education in exchange for providing primary care in underserved areas once they complete the program.
Maganito attended Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he earned three advanced degrees: a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Healthcare Administration.
He began his career as an OB/GYN in a rural part of Washington State. “Everyone needed help, and we did what we could,” he recalls. “Serving the underserved gave me purpose.” He appreciates a model of care like MCHC’s, where everyone’s healthcare needs are met, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Since then, his career has spanned clinical care, medical administration, and education. He has served as an OB/GYN, a women’s healthcare director, the chief of staff with the Montana Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, and the medical director and then the chief medical officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. His teaching career includes having been part of the clinical faculty for multiple medical schools and residency programs, among them the University of Washington, Pacific Northwest University, Touro University, and Michigan State University. He also served as director of Tracks and Electives at Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine, a campus of Rocky Mountain University.
Although Maganito appreciated gaining a broader understanding of healthcare through his administrative roles, he soon realized that something meaningful was missing: directly caring for patients. “I wanted to get back to being a general practitioner,” he says.
He applied for a position and served as an OB/GYN in Stockton, California, where he worked for three years immediately prior to this new role at MCHC. Moving to Ukiah brings his family closer to extended relatives.
He resonates with MCHC’s approach to women’s health, where he works collaboratively with other doctors, nurse-midwives, and women’s health nursing staff. “We work as a team,” he says.
Maganito says being an OB/GYN provides unique opportunities to build relationships with patients over time, thanks to the repeat visits that occur for expecting parents. Within obstetrics and gynecology, Maganito’s interests and areas of expertise include laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, infertility, and urogynecology—and delivering babies, one of his favorite parts of the job.
MCHC Women’s Health Director Dr. Donna Smith said, “The moment I started talking to Dr. Maganito I knew he would be a good addition to the team. He is humble, hard-working and sincere. He brings more quality, empathetic care to our underserved area.”
When he is not at work, Maganito spends time with his wife and their daughters, who are competitive swimmers. “It’s all about family for me,” he says. They are settling into Ukiah and appreciate the friendly people and laid-back feel.
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.