Our Story

Mental Health Care That’s Personal, Evidence-Based, and Purpose-Driven

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Rooted in Community and Purpose

Dr. Julio Monterrey’s journey to founding Monterrey Health is deeply rooted in his personal history and commitment to his hometown. Having grown up in San Jose, California, Dr. Monterrey was acutely aware of the mental health needs in his community. After 14 years of rigorous training—including undergraduate studies, medical school, a master’s degree, and psychiatry residency at Stanford University—he felt a strong desire to give back to the place that shaped him.

Returning to Serve San Jose

Motivated by this sense of responsibility, Dr. Monterrey sought out opportunities to serve San Jose. He connected with a local community clinic just ten minutes from his childhood home, where he became the first and founding psychiatrist. At the time, the clinic had 30 school-based therapists but lacked psychiatric services. Dr. Monterrey offered his expertise and passion to establish the Department of Psychiatry, marking the beginning of his mission to address the vast mental health needs in his community.

After this formative experience, Dr. Monterrey expanded his impact by becoming medical director at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, overseeing seven clinics (four pediatric and three adult). He led these clinics through a major transformation, especially during the pandemic, moving from paper-based to virtual systems and greatly improving their organization.

Founding Monterrey Health

Inspired by these experiences, Dr. Monterrey set out to create his own clinic—one that would deliver the highest quality psychiatric care to the general public, not just to those in elite programs. His vision was to make top-tier mental health care accessible to all, especially those in his own community.

Key Principles That Guide Care

Key founding principles of Monterrey Health include:

  • Patient-Centered Care: Patients are empowered to make informed choices, with physicians providing expert guidance and support.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Emphasis on diagnostic clarity and research-driven treatment.
  • Collaborative Approach: Close teamwork with other healthcare providers and within the clinic.
  • Transparent Communication: Clear timelines and treatment plans so patients always know where they stand.
  • Minimal Medication Intervention: A “start low, go slow” philosophy to ensure efficacy with minimal side effects.

Leadership and Team Culture

Dr. Kass Pinedo joined as operations director, helping to turn this vision into a reality. The clinic intentionally recruited physicians for administrative roles, ensuring a leadership team with clinical insight and empathy.

Monterrey Health’s culture is unique: it supports both patients and staff, with many team members being physicians who contribute to healthcare administration or continue their medical careers. The clinic is known for its meticulous, patient-focused approach, leveraging modern technology while maintaining a personal, straightforward, and secure patient experience.
Everyone at Monterrey Health, from staff to providers, has been handpicked for their compassion, competence, and dedication to patient care. All providers at the clinic embody the core values of Monterrey Health—patient-centeredness, collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based practice.

A Unique Patient Experience

Patients can rest assured that every member of the team upholds the highest standards of excellence, ensuring that each individual who walks through the clinic’s doors receives attentive, expert, and compassionate care.

Ready to get mental health care that offers the treatments, insights, and lasting results that traditional systems often cannot?
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