Merck Foundation awards $1.75 million grant to Providence Medical Foundation, Northern California for Cardiac Care Collaborative

This grant will help our patients and community members in Sonoma, Napa and Humboldt counties.

November 21, 2025 — The Merck Foundation has awarded a $1.75 million grant over five years to Providence Medical Foundation (known to patients and the public as Providence Medical Group, Northern California) to support the Heart Health for All Collaborative, a program aimed at improving cardiac care for people in the region who live with heart conditions.

Meeting the need

According to the CDC, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the number one cause of death in the U.S. for decades, responsible for about one in every five deaths. Health disparities can exacerbate the risks; in Northern California, access to health services and resources are key barriers for people of color. Challenges due to geographic isolation, provider and cultural care shortages, and economic instability lead to higher levels of disparities in health outcomes compared to the rest of the state.

Providence Medical Foundation will lead the collaborative alongside Hearts of Sonoma (HSC), a decade-long partnership focused on reducing heart attacks and strokes. HSC brings together leaders from Providence and several community-based organizations, including Northern California Center for Well-Being, Ceres Community Project, Sonoma Connect Sonoma Unidos, Health Action Together and Aliados Health.

Program strategies and goals
The program will allow trained pharmacists and community health workers to partner with our clinicians and staff to deliver culturally tailored cardiovascular education and promote evidence-based guidelines within our clinics and health centers that are part of Aliados Health. The collaborative will also help inform public health policies and foundational changes, such as Medi-Cal policy and school food standards, aimed at cardiovascular health improvement for our Providence patients and community members.

Over five years, the initiative aims to expand access to heart care for our Sonoma, Napa and Humboldt communities, foster trust among people of color, improve hypertension control, and create a sustainable model addressing social drivers of health.

Quotes
“We’re thrilled that the Merck Foundation selected us to be part of this initiative. This grant is more than an investment in our group, it’s an investment in our community’s health and future. With these resources, we can expand access to life-saving heart care for underserved populations, address disparities head-on, and give more people the chance to live longer, healthier lives." - Monica Ferguson, MD, regional medical director for quality and health equity, Providence Medical Group

“Thank you to all our physicians, providers and caregivers who will be on the front lines providing this essential outreach and care to help our NorCal patients. It’s incredible to see our team unite and live out our Mission by providing care to these vulnerable populations for the next five years and beyond.” - Bob Just, chief executive, Providence Medical Group

About Us

Providence Medical Foundation (known to patients and the public as Providence Medical Group, Northern California) is a diverse, physician-led network of over 500 primary and specialty care providers with clinic locations across Sonoma, Napa and Humboldt counties. With our expansive network of clinicians and network of hospitals, clinics and urgent cares, we offer leading-edge, compassionate health care to ensure our community members receive the great care they deserve. The medical group is part of Providence – a nationally recognized, faith based non-profit health care organization spanning seven states.