Tahoe Forest Health System Announces $1 Million Gift from Mark Zuckerberg & Dr. Priscilla Chan to Expand Rural Healthcare Access

The Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation is honored to announce a $1 million gift from Mark Zuckerberg & Dr. Priscilla Chan in support of Tahoe Forest Health System’s Mobile Health Program. This extraordinary investment will expand access to primary and preventive healthcare across the rural mountain communities served by Tahoe Forest Health System.

The Mobile Health Program reflects Tahoe Forest Health System’s commitment to advancing Health Within Reach, one of the central aims of its True North 2030 Strategic Plan.

For residents of rural mountain communities, accessing healthcare can be complicated by many factors such as distance, transportation limitations, and severe winter weather. The Mobile Health Program extends care beyond traditional healthcare facilities to address these barriers by bringing care directly into communities throughout the region. The mobile clinic will be scheduled in targeted communities on designated days, with built in flexibility for community outreach.

Initial services will include primary and preventive care, health screenings, laboratory services, immunizations, behavioral health consultations, chronic disease management, care coordination, health education and wellness outreach, telehealth connections to specialists, and youth sports physicals. This program will create more opportunities for prevention, early identification of health concerns, and continuity of care.

Dr. Priscilla Chan shares, “As a pediatrician, I know how important it is to have access to care, no matter where you live. In rural communities, distance, winter weather, and the cost of living can stand between people and a routine visit—and that makes prevention and early care harder to reach. Mark and I are excited to support Tahoe Forest Health System’s Mobile Health Program, which will make primary and preventive care more accessible.”

“On behalf of the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Mark Zuckerberg & Dr. Priscilla Chan for this extraordinary gift and their belief in the importance of accessible, high-quality healthcare,” said Karli Bunnell, Executive Director of the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. “Their generosity represents a meaningful investment in the health and well-being of our rural communities and will help create new opportunities for people to access care closer to home.”

“This investment allows us to think differently about how healthcare is delivered in a rural mountain region,” said Anna Roth, TFHS President and CEO. “Health Within Reach means more than having excellent healthcare available within our system—it means making that care accessible to people where they are. The Mobile Health Program gives us an opportunity to bring preventive care closer to home, build relationships within communities, and create pathways to care that may not otherwise exist.”

The Mobile Health Program represents an important step in Tahoe Forest Health System’s vision for a more proactive and community-centered model of rural healthcare. By extending care beyond the walls of traditional facilities, the program will help create greater opportunities for residents to engage with healthcare and support their health and well-being.

The Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to Mark Zuckerberg & Dr. Priscilla Chan for their vision, generosity, and partnership. Their $1 million investment will help advance Health Within Reach and expand access to care for communities throughout the region.