Providers

Dr. Edwin Acosta, MMS, DDS
Primary Care Service Director

Dr. Edwin Acosta has served San Benito Health Foundation patients since 2008 as a Dentist and the Primary Care Service Director. Dr Acosta is a graduate from the University of Florida, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science Education. He continued his studies at Nova Southeastern University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master’s Degree in Medical Science. Upon graduation, he worked as a Physician Assistant in spine surgery. However, he found his true calling in the field of dentistry and in 2008, received his doctorate from Meharry Medical College in Dentistry. Dr. Acosta began his dental career at the San Benito Health Foundation and continues to serve the local community. During his early tenure with SBHF, Dr. Acosta excelled in service delivery and leadership ushering him to the role of Dental Director and later Primary Care Services Director. Dr. Acosta has completed the HRSA Clinical Director training for community health center clinical leadership. Due to his unique cross discipline training Dr. Acosta was instrumental in leading SBHF’s response to the H1N1 Pandemic and later the COVID-19 Pandemic. Dr. Acosta is also an innovative clinical space designer and led the remodeling of the Dental Department from a 4-chair to an 8-chair open space operatory which has been well received by patients of all age groups. He has been awarded the National Health Service Scholarship and remains active with National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA), the California Dental Association, and the California Primary Care Association.

Dr. Erika Ceballos
Family Medicine 

Dr. Erika Ceballos is a Family Medicine doctor currently practicing at the San Benito Health Foundation clinic as part of the AB-1045 program. She completed her residency in Family Medicine. She previously worked as a medical assistant for several years before pursuing medicine at Autonomous University of Baja California, where she graduated in 2005. Dr. Ceballos is also a Lactation Consultant endorsed by the University of California, San Diego. She is a highly qualified medical professional with 15 years of experience. It is her mission to serve and support the most vulnerable sectors of the community who have limited access to medical care. In offering bilingual Spanish and English healthcare, she is able to provide better quality care for more residents of San Benito County.

Dr. Yazmin Gomez
Pediatrician

Dr. Yazmin Gomez is a pediatrician with over thirteen years of experience in medicine. She graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. After a career as a general practitioner, Dr. Gomez specialized in Pediatrics at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City. Dr. Gomez previously worked as a pediatrician for the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social and the Instituto de Salud del Estado de Mexico. She also has instructional experience as a medical schoolteacher for the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Dr. Gomez is currently part of the AB-1045 program at the San Benito Health Foundation as a pediatrician and WIC breastfeeding consultant. As a consultant, she provides lactation counseling and focuses on both educating and supporting mothers and their newborns. Her empathetic approach and bilingual care allow her to deliver high quality healthcare at the San Benito Health Foundation.

Dr. Maria Vargas-Torres
Family Medicine

Dr. Maria Vargas-Torres is a highly educated physician who is passionate about providing high quality health care to the public. She studied general medicine at Corporacion Universitana Rafael Nunes in Columbia, CO. She moved to Mexico to further her medical studies, specializing in Family Medicine, and graduating at the top of her class at Benenerita Universidad Autonoma Puebla. She has previous experience as a family planning coach at Servicios de Salud del Estados de Puebla and as a Family Medical provider at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. In addition to her medical degrees, Dr. Vargas-Torres has a Master’s Degree in Health Institution Administration. Dr. Vargas is currently a Family Medicine provider at the San Benito Health under the AB-1045 program and a Primary Care Psychiatry Fellow at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.

Dr. Nathanael Cordero
Family Medicine

Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Nathanael Cordero is a Family Medicine practitioner with extensive international experience. He studied Biology at the University of Puerto Rico. He then moved to Mexico to earn his medical degree from the Xochicalco University in Ensenada, BCS, Mexico. After graduating in 2013, Dr. Cordero acquired medical experience as a medical doctor in private practice as well as in a general hospital. He completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Sinaloa, Mexico in 2022. Dr. Cordero is currently a Family Medicine provider at the San Benito Health Foundation through the AB-1045 program. He is passionate about offering high quality health services to the underprivileged and Latino / Hispanic community in San Benito County. Recently, he became a Fellow of the Primary Care Psychiatric program at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.

Dr. Javier Sotomayor
Family Medicine

Dr. Javier Sotomayor earned his General Medicine degree from Benemierta Universidad Autonomade de Puebla. He earned his Family Physician Specialization from Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, where he also spent ten years working as a Family Physical consultant. He spent the following 5 years serving Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in its Diabetes Department. In addition to his medical credentials, Dr. Sotomayor holds a Master’s Degree in Health Institution Management from El Instituto de Estadios Universitarios. Dr. Sotomayor joined the San Benito Health Foundation as part of the AB-1045 program and currently serves San Benito County as a Family Practitioner. Dr. Sotomayor’s expertise combined with his passion for helping others makes him an invaluable part of the San Benito Health Foundation.

Dr. Joyce Wilbur
Optometrist

Dr. Joyce Wilbur studied biology at the California State University, Fullerton before earning a doctorate degree in Optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry. She completed her residency in the state of Texas at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Dr. Wilbur has private, public, and corporate clinical experience. Dr. Wilbur joined the San Benito Health Foundation’s vision team in 2020. Dr. Wilbur has been a Hollister resident for over a decade and is dedicated to providing first-rate care to the entirety of her community.

Dr. Nazhat Parveen Sharma
Ophthalmologist

Dr. Nazhat Parveen Sharma is an internationally acclaimed ophthalmologist. She completed her medical training at the University of New Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College and earned her Ophthalmology Master’s degree from the Savitribai Phule Pule University. Dr. Sharma is the recipient of multiple prestigious international fellowships and has worked for leading global health institutions. Dr. Sharma was previously an Assistant Professor at Stanford University and served in the US military as a Major. Her practice, Sharma Ophthalmic Services, served the central coast and valley for over thirty years, first in Monterey before moving to Hollister and Los Banos. Dr. Sharma has served on the Hazel Hawkins Board of trustees and is one of the founding members of the San Benito Medial Association advocating for local providers. Since 2015, Dr. Sharma has worked part time for the San Benito Health Foundation’s vision department. She genuinely enjoys working with local patients and improving healthcare in San Benito County. Dr. Sharma recently received her Certificate in Multiple Esthetic Medical procedures.