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Doctor announces $5 million seed grant for proposed Heber ambulatory surgical center for complex dental care
Summary
Dr. Maximilian James told the board that a nonprofit ambulatory surgical center for complex dental and pediatric cases — focused on individuals with developmental disabilities and medically complex needs — has secured a $5,000,000 seed grant and plans to locate a flagship center in Heber.
Dr. Maximilian James (presenting as Dr. Chambers) introduced Empowered in Surgery Centers (IDSC), a nonprofit he said will be headquartered in Heber and focused on long‑delayed dental surgical care for vulnerable residents. "For too long, Imperial County families have endured wait times of up to 2 years," Dr. James said, adding that the center would accept referrals from other counties and provide specialty procedures locally.
Dr. James said the project has a $5,000,000 seed grant from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority and that he authored and secured that grant. He described the center as "the nation's first maximally desensitized and fully AI integrated dental ambulatory surgical center, purpose built and designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, patients with complex dental and medical needs, and advanced pediatric dental cases." He requested a private audience with the board to discuss partnerships and next steps.
Board members responded positively to the announcement. Supervisor Peggy Price thanked Dr. James and said the center could reduce the need for families to travel out of county for complex pediatric and specialty dental procedures.
What was not resolved at the hearing: Dr. James requested a private meeting with the board to explore partnership and support; no formal county commitment, contract, or funding action was taken at the meeting and none was recorded in the minutes.
Why it matters: Dr. James framed the center as an attempt to bring specialty surgical dental care to Imperial County for populations with limited access. If developed as described, the center would change where complex pediatric and medically necessary dental surgeries are performed for local residents.
Provenance: Dr. James introduced the center and its mission in public comment starting "Good afternoon, distinguished supervisors. My name is doctor Maximilian James..." and later stated details about the $5,000,000 seed grant and partnerships (transcript blocks where he described the grant and asked for a private audience).
