SAN ANTONIO — His mission is to improve health care access on the south side.
Days before Dr. Ray Altamirano opened his clinic Til Midnight Urgent Care, burglars smashed the front door.
The criminals didn't target medical supplies or medication, the doctor said. They took paintings off the wall.
That was in August. Last week, it happened again.
The paintings stolen December 2 were Spurs art pieces by San Antonio artist Mel Cervantes. These artworks weren't just for display purposes, each was for sale to serve a greater purpose: paying medical bills for patients without health insurance.
Til Midnight Urgent Care is located in a shopping center off Southwest Military Dr. between Pleasanton Rd. and Commercial Ave.
It's a location hand-picked by Dr. Altamirano.
"I put my life savings into this to open it up here on the south side right in my backyard," said Altamirano.
Born and raised in this neighborhood, Altamirano knows firsthand the health care disparities that exist.
"When I wanted to start a business, I knew it had to be here," he explained. "What I'm doing is as important as where I'm doing it."
In May of last year, Texas Vista Medical Center on the south side shut its doors diminishing neighbors' access to health care — particularly after hours.
"Patients with government plans: Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE — all of the above — have no access after certain hours. In fact, the only access they have is at the hospital Mission Trail down the road where they tell me wait times could be up to six to eight hours," said Altamirano.
In August, Altamirano opened Til Midnight Urgent Care.
"We're the only urgent care not just in the south side, but all of San Antonio, that takes Medicaid after 8 p.m." he said. "We're open when no one else is and we're open when no one else wants to be."
Lining the walls of the clinic are pieces of artwork, the majority Altamirano painted himself.
In July, days before his clinic opened, his art was taken from the front lobby around 4 a.m.
"Someone bashed the window in and took pieces off the wall," he explained. "Some are print, some are originals and they made off with it."
The second time, the thieves swiped three original Spurs paintings valued at $1,000. The paintings, by San Antonio artist Mel Cervantes, were hanging in the break room.
"I had one of Manu Ginobili, Popovich and Duncan. That's the heart of the city when it comes to Spurs and sports," said Altamirano, a huge Spurs fan.
He didn't plan to keep the paintings. He intended to take them off the walls once they were sold. Altamirano's first clinic, Casa Salud, serves those without health insurance. Profits from the sold artwork would go to those patients.
If you recognize the paintings while you're out Christmas shopping, and they're not being sold by the original artist Mel Cervantes, let Dr. Altamirano know by calling 210-201-1919.
He filed a police report and beefed up security, adding more cameras and an alarm system. At this time, it's unclear if it's the same person who struck twice. Surveillance video the landlord provided of the December 2 burglary did not show any useful details of the perpetrator.
While the crimes are disheartening, Altamirano says they won't deter him from his mission.
"Some of the comments [online] were, 'I bet if you were in Stone Oak this would not have happened,'" said Altamirano. "I don't belong in Stone Oak. I belong here."