Our Story

BACHC’s story began in the early 1990s, at a time when the HIV/AIDS crisis was devastating communities around the country. In the Antelope Valley, a group of compassionate advocates — led by Dr. Susan Lawrence, Frank Altadonna and Sonny Bartz — founded The Catalyst Foundation to respond to that crisis. Their work was rooted in healing trauma, serving individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and restoring dignity to those too often left behind.

What began as a mission-driven HIV/AIDS clinic evolved quickly into something broader. Under Dr. Lawrence’s leadership, a feasibility study and strategic plan revealed that the same commitment to compassion, equity, and care could serve the wider underserved population. The initiative grew from providing HIV care into becoming the first Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the Antelope Valley.

Darryl Lind, co-founder and the first Chief Executive Officer, helped formalize the operational foundation for growth, establishing infrastructure, community trust, and sustainability. These early years laid the foundation for BACHC’s sustained impact.

In 2017, Mary Cummings became CEO and ushered in a new era of transformation. Mary formalized and integrated behavioral health, introduced substance use disorder (SUD) services, and led the organization to achieve major accreditations and recognition — including The Joint Commission Accreditation, NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition, and FTCA Deeming. Under her leadership, BACHC launched its in-house and retail pharmacy, established a Family Medicine Residency Program in partnership with Palmdale Regional Medical Center (PMRC), and opened new clinic sites across Boron, Antelope Valley College, West Palmdale, and at the Kensington Shelter — expanding access to care across the region.

From its inception as an HIV/AIDS advocacy clinic to its evolution into a regional FQHC providing full-spectrum care, BACHC’s journey is a testament to vision, perseverance, and community. At every step, the organization has remained grounded in its founding values of healing trauma, promoting dignity, and ensuring access — striving to serve every individual, regardless of their ability to pay.