The Roggin Report is taking a closer look at a lawsuit involving Desert Regional Medical Center and Desert Physicians Medical Group, or DPMG, and allegations surrounding more than $1 million in public funding and grants connected to medical residency programs in the Coachella Valley.
At the center of the dispute are DPMG and its principals, Dr. Tae Kim and Dr. Gemma Kim. Desert Regional alleges that money and resources intended to support physician training may have been diverted or improperly handled, including questions about whether resident salaries were effectively budgeted twice.
One major point involves a $1,057,396 grant approved by the Desert Healthcare District in 2023 for DPMG to purchase and operate a second mobile medical clinic. The goal was to bring healthcare services to underserved Coachella Valley communities. The program provided services including school sports physicals, vaccinations, wellness checks for farm workers and women's health services.
The dispute is not over whether the mobile clinic operated. Instead, Desert Regional alleges that DPMG used the hospital's residency program and resident doctors to help secure the grant. The lawsuit says the grant budget included $240,000 annually for resident salaries, while Desert Regional says the hospital was already paying those residents and did not receive the grant money designated for those salaries.
The lawsuit also raises questions about DPMG's tax and business status. The report says DPMG did not report the Desert Healthcare District grants in its IRS filings, was not registered with the state's charity registry and had its tax status suspended in February 2025. Public records cited in the investigation also show DPMG did not obtain a city business license until June 2025.
Another issue involves the Song Brown Program, which provides funding for physician training in underserved areas. Desert Regional alleges more than $120,000 was paid directly to DPMG between October 2022 and January 2025, even though the funding was connected to the hospital's residency program.
The lawsuit also involves CalMedForce grants. Desert Regional says the loss of three grants prevented it from accessing $360,000. However, the termination letter confirms missing documentation but does not prove the Kims took the money or caused the missing records.
The central question now is simple: Who applied for the money, who received it, who paid the residents and how was every public dollar spent?
DPMG has not responded to the investigation. Desert Regional said it does not comment on active litigation but is confident in its position and the judicial process.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
August 20, 2026
