Our History
Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society (SSVMS)
In continuous operation since 1868, SSVMS is the oldest medical society in California and represents over 6,500 physicians and medical students in El Dorado, Sacramento and Yolo counties. SSVMS is a component medical society of the California Medical Association.
Community Service, Education and Research Fund (CSERF)
In 1969, SSVMS established its Medical Student Scholarship Fund, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, aimed at relieving some of the financial burden medical students were facing in medical school. In 1997, the name was changed to the Community Service, Education and Research Fund (CSERF) and additional programs, like the SPIRIT Program, became part of the organization.
Now known as Sierra Sacramento Cares
In 2025, CSERF rebranded itself to better represent its five main programs (SPIRIT, Future of Medicine, the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition, the Museum of Medical History, and the Medical Student Scholarship Fund). This shift allows Sierra Sac Cares to focus its priorities on serving the greater Sacramento community.