Dr. Elaine Yin presented with Congressional Woman of the Year award
Congressman Salud Carbajal recognized the Dignity Health OB/GYN for her extensive contributions to the Central Coast community
Dr. Elaine Yin, a highly respected obstetrician and gynecologist at Dignity Health’s Santa Maria Women’s Health Center, which is part of the Pacific Central Coast Health Centers network, received the prestigious Congressional Woman of the Year in Health Care award.
Presented by Congressman Salud Carbajal during a ceremony at Marian Regional Medical Center on Oct. 24, the award recognized Dr. Yin’s decades-long commitment to the Central Coast community.
Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, Dr. Yin accepted the award with heartfelt gratitude. She paid tribute to her parents, who emigrated from China, and whose unwavering work ethic and emphasis on compassionate service shaped her career.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” Dr. Yin said of her parents, noting that her father will turn 100 in February. “They instilled in me the values of hard work, doing the best that you can in whatever you do, and that I needed to treat everyone as I wanted to be treated.”
Dr. Yin’s impact extends far beyond the examination room. Scott Robertson, MD, President and CEO of Pacific Central Coast Health Centers, lauded her exceptional abilities as a clinician, mentor, and leader, roles that are “not easy to do – in no way, shape, or form.”
“But Dr. Yin makes it look easy,” Dr. Robertson said. “That’s a real testament to her skills–both as a clinician and as a human being–because not only does she have the scientific knowledge and skills to do the work, but she has a true passion for the human condition and I think that is exemplified in everything that she does.”
Dr. Robertson highlighted Dr. Yin’s unwavering advocacy for her patients, describing it as her “superpower.”
“It’s part of our responsibility and duty to be patient advocates – particularly at the point of care,” he said. “If you’re seeing a patient and that patient needs something, it’s our job to make sure they get it. Dr. Yin takes that a step further – she advocates on an entirely different level.”
This advocacy is particularly evident in Dr. Yin’s pioneering work. She established the OB/GYN Residency Program at Marian Regional Medical Center, significantly improving access to women’s health care in Santa Barbara County. Her commitment to underserved populations, notably the Mixteco community, showcases her dedication to cultural understanding and equitable care.
"This award is a testament to her remarkable contributions as a health care professional, community leader, and advocate for under-served populations," Congressman Carbajal said. "Her dedication, compassion, and unwavering service make her an inspiration to us all and an extraordinary role model."
Dr. Yin’s contributions are multifaceted. As department chair of obstetrics/gynecology at Marian Regional Medical Center, she has trained countless medical students and residents, providing both hands-on instruction and didactic teaching. She also collaborates with researchers at Cal Poly, focusing on the impact of nutrition on maternal and neonatal health. Beyond medicine, Dr. Yin is a passionate supporter of the arts, actively sponsoring the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center.
Dr. Yin’s 32-plus years of service exemplify a life dedicated to improving the health and well-being of others. Her Congressional Woman of the Year award is a well-deserved recognition of her extraordinary contributions.
Learn more about Santa Maria Women’s Health Center and click here to learn about Marian’s OB/GYN Residency Program.