The Lestonnac Free Clinic model is built on the shoulders of doctors and nurses who volunteer their time to meet the basic medical needs of low-income and uninsured individuals across Southern California.
Now the volunteers will be able to add free basic surgeries to the care they are able to give those in need.
Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, flanked by Dr. Nitin Shah, left, and Bill Thompson, right, holds up a giant scissors and jokes, “anybody need a surgery” as he prepares to cut the ribbon to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, chats with visitors during a tour after a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen with Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, during a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Supervisor Victor Sarmiento, left, with Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, during a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bill Thompson during a ceremony to officially open Lestonnac Free Clinic’s new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bill Thompson congratulates Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, during a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, demonstrates cataract surgery equipment during a tour after a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, during a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People visit the Lestonnac Free Clinic after a ceremony to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Ed Gerber, executive director of Lestonnac Free Clinic, flanked by Dr. Nitin Shah, left, and Bill Thompson, right, holds up a giant scissors and jokes, “anybody need a surgery” as he prepares to cut the ribbon to officially open their new surgery center in Orange, CA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Made possible by a $4 million donation from the Thompson Family Foundation, the new 4,000-sq.-ft. Lestonnac Surgery Center will offer colonoscopies, hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and other critical procedures—all free of charge—through the support of 300+ volunteer physicians from Orange County and Southern California hospitals. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The new 4,000-square-foot facility in Orange includes two operating rooms equipped for colonoscopies, endoscopies, cataract surgery and other minor surgeries.
Gerber said the facility will be able to accommodate about 30 surgeries a month once running at full capacity.
County leaders celebrated the surgery center’s ribbon-cutting on Thursday.
“We know the need is so high,” said Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. “This is incredible, what you’ll be able to provide.”
Since 1979, the Lestonnac Free Clinic has offered primary medical, dental and vision care at no cost to those in need. In 2024, 300 volunteer doctors working with the clinic provided comprehensive care to more than 12,000 patients.
Gerber and the doctors he works with fundraised to open the surgery center as they grew frustrated with their inability to help thousands of patients who needed basic operations, but could not afford them.
The Thompson Family Foundation answered their call with a $4 million donation, which, along with other donations, was enough to build the surgery center and keep it operating for at least five years.
“We saw people who needed minor surgeries, but they couldn’t get them done,” Gerber said. “In our society, in our community, that’s unacceptable.”
Nephtali Gomez, a general surgeon, has committed to driving from Loma Linda, where he works at the university’s medical center and the Veterans Affairs medical center, to Orange to perform multiple pro bono hernia surgeries per month.
“Why wouldn’t I?” he said. “The gratitude of the patients makes it worth it.”
“Clinics wanting to do something like this is common,” Gomez said. “What’s not common, and what Lestonnac has pulled off, is building a place that has the infrastructure for safe surgery.”
Nicky Washida, who worked as a patient care assistant at Hoag Hospital in Irvine, plans to volunteer to support surgeries at the Lestonnac clinic, as well.
“I can do this, so I should do this,” she said. “There’s such a need, and this population is the most polite and most grateful for the help.”
