Honorable Dr. Joaquin Arambula

Dr. Joaquin Arambula,
Ex Officio Board Member.

Dr. Joaquin Arambula was elected in April 2016 in a special election to represent California’s 31st Assembly District. Assembly member Arambula now serves the cities of Biola, Bowles, Calwa, Cantua Creek, Caruthers, Coalinga, Del Rey, Easton, Firebaugh, Fowler, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Monmouth, Orange Cove, Parlier, Raisin City, Reedley, San Joaquin, Sanger, Selma, Tranquility and approximately 41% of the City of Fresno.

Dr. Arambula (D-Fresno) is the first Latino physician ever elected to the State Assembly. Prior to running for office, Dr. Arambula served as Medical Director of California Emergency Physicians at Adventist-Selma Hospital. As a member of the State Assembly, he is using his experience as an emergency physician to advance the precept that health care is a fundamental human right.

Dr. Arambula attended medical school with the goal of serving rural communities similar to where he was raised.

Since his election, he has focused on the shortage of doctors in the Central Valley. To help this shortage in rural communities, Dr. Arambula has been a vocal advocate for building a new medical school in the San Joaquin Valley, with the hope of encouraging more trained medical professional to remain in their communities.

As a doctor, he has been on the frontlines of some of the most serious challenges and has seen the issues that impact the lives of Valley residents. His experience working in the emergency room galvanized his commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their social or economic status, receives the care they deserve. Seeing patients in the emergency room taught him that investment in preventative care is key to building healthier communities.

Communities in the district Dr. Arambula represents are some of the most disadvantaged in the state, with some of the highest poverty rates and highest exposure to environmental pollution. To that end, he has been working to ensure that pollution prevention programs are benefiting the areas most impacted by greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

He is also focused on workforce development and improving access to and availability of water in the Central Valley. He is currently working closely with the San Joaquin Valley delegation in advocating for the Temperance Flat Dam.

He was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley and his parents instilled in him a commitment to hard work and public service, as well as a dedication to making the Central Valley a better place to live, work and raise a family. Dr. Arambula said that he and his siblings learned from their parents the importance of giving back to the community: “They instilled in us a deep commitment for helping those less fortunate.”

Dr. Arambula and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Fresno with their three daughters.

Assembly member Arambula was appointed as an Ex Officio member of the Board by the Speaker of the California State Assembly in May 2017.