Bay Valley Medical Group is proud of its long history as one of the few continuously independent, physician-owned, multispecialty medical groups in the Bay Area. It was founded as Hayward Medical Group in 1954 by six physicians who had a vision of creating a primary care and specialty practice with broad appeal to individuals of all ages. These doctors included Ronald Slater, M.D., obstetrics/gynecology, Lionel Pfeffer, M.D., internal medicine, Donald Parker, M.D., internal medicine, Franklin Close, M.D., pediatrics, Roxie Novario, M.D., obstetrics/gynecology and Edward Roberts, M.D., general surgery. They started on B Street in downtown Hayward. When the City of Hayward condemned the building as part of a planned freeway construction project, the Group relocated to a larger site on Calaroga Avenue in 1972. This building, which has since been expanded and remodeled, is the current home of our Hayward office.
The Group continued to expand, and in 1982 opened its first satellite office in San Ramon. This expansion outside of Hayward warranted a name change and, after an employee naming contest, “Bay Valley Medical Group” was selected. The Pleasanton satellite office opened in 1986 and San Ramon subsequently merged into Pleasanton. Castro Valley opened in 1995 with a solo pediatrician and in 2008 was expanded to include obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine and podiatry. The Danville office opened in 1999 offering primary and urgent care services. This full complement of offices, spanning the 880, 580 and 680 highway corridors, realized the dream of our founding physicians.
The onset of managed care in the early 1980’s was another important force in shaping Bay Valley Medical Group’s strategy and mission. Access to HMOs, a larger geographic area, and plenty of physicians for patient choice became important goals. To achieve these goals, the Group formed a management services organization (Bay Valley Management, Inc.) as well as an affiliate physician network of over 350 primary care and specialist physicians.
This transformation of our medical group was the brainchild of the Group’s first medical director, Ira G. Davidoff, M.D. Dr. Davidoff, an internal medicine physician who joined the group in 1974, became the medical director in 1988 and served as chairman of the board from 1990 to 2006. Under his leadership, Bay Valley Medical Group became a successful, well-renown organization with influence in California health care policy. Dr. Davidoff, who died in 2006, was an inspiration to physicians and staff. His legacy continues to guide our organization.
Bay Valley Medical Group is currently led by Dr. Roland Wong, chairman of the board, Dr. Eric Kohleriter, president and medical director, and Shelley Horwitz, chief executive officer. Their dedication to patient care and professional expertise, along with the contributions of the board of directors and all of the physicians and staff fuel the Group’s continued success.
Bay Valley Medical Group has a well-established mission statement and a set of core values. These serve as the cornerstone of the Group’s activities, decisions and strategies.
Bay Valley Medical Group provides compassionate care and service to our patients through partnership with physicians, hospitals and health plans. We seek to provide our employees with a secure and challenging environment, which recognizes their contributions.
is paramount; patient care and clinical activities are top priority.
A for patients, physicians and employees engenders credibility, trust, competency and teamwork.
of BVMG is important and will depend on individuals and the group being adaptable, collaborative, and willing to invest in the future both in terms of hard assets and people.
