Union says FHCSD fired a physician during medical leave in retaliation
Issue
UAPD/AFSCME said in April 2026 that Family Health Centers of San Diego fired Dr. Raquel Cornejo Pina, a physician there for seven years, while she was on protected medical leave, in retaliation for raising staffing concerns and backing a union. About 1,000 patients lose their primary care doctor.
FHCSD denies retaliation. An earlier NLRB case (21-CA-377502) was filed December 2025.
Key points
- Dr. Cornejo Pina was fired after seven years, during protected medical leave, the union says.
- About 1,000 patients lose their primary care doctor mid-treatment.
- It adds to FHCSD's NLRB case 21-CA-377502, filed in December 2025.
- This signals rising physician unionization risk at California health centers.
Sources for this story
UAPD/AFSCMEPart of
- Healthcare labor and organizing
Organizing drives and elections · Contracts, strikes and unfair-labor-practice charges
Affected FQHCs
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FQHC Talent. (2026, April 10). Union says FHCSD fired a physician during medical leave in retaliation. Source: UAPD/AFSCME. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/fhcsd-cornejo-pina-termination-uapd-april-10-2026