News

PHC offers support to physicians impacted by the Southern California wildfires

Wildfires in Southern California have caused widespread destruction, impacting homes, workplaces, and medical practices, while displacing thousands, including health care professionals and community members alike. In response, the California Medical Association (CMA) and Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) have launched a variety of efforts to support impacted physicians and their practices, including:

• Raising funds to reestablish the delivery of medical care by providing physicians with assistance to help restore their medical practices
• Publishing a guide for patients and physicians impacted by Southern California wildfires
• Working to ease burdens on physicians and patients through regulatory advocacy
• Creating a wildfire resources webpage with information for physicians, businesses, property owners, families and more

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PHC welcomes new board member Martin Vazquez, M.S.

The Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Martin Vazquez, M.S., as its new medical student representative. In this role, he will advocate for and represent California’s diverse medical student population. He is currently a second-year medical student in the inaugural program of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine (CDU COM).  

Vasquez co-founded and helped establish both the Latino Medical Student Association and the Family Medicine Interest Group at CDU COM, where he served as the co-chair and treasurer, respectively. Through these roles, he created community and cultural events to share with the medical school student body.

Vazquez has also been a mentor for underrepresented youth across Southern California and beyond who are interested in a career in health care.  He earned a master’s degree from Western University of Health Sciences, in addition to a double bachelor’s degree from the University of California Los Angeles in biology and Chicano/a Studies. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, who is also a medical student, and their two cats. In his free time, Vazquez enjoys playing soccer, tennis, going on hikes, and visiting his family in California’s Central Valley.

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Register now for the Health Equity Leadership Summit

Join us in July for one of 2025’s top health care conferences! Physicians for a Healthy California’s third Health Equity Leadership Summit is coming to the Westin Pasadena on July 10-11, 2025. This dynamic event provides an opportunity for physicians, executives, advocates and allies to find community, engage in hands-on training and workshops, and hold in-depth conversations about how they are addressing the issue of health equity in California through their care of underserved communities.

We are thrilled to welcome Uché Blackstock, M.D.—best-selling author, renowned speaker and founder of Advancing Health Equity—as a featured speaker. In a fireside chat, Dr. Blackstock will share insights from her acclaimed book, LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, offering a powerful perspective on inequities in U.S. health care.

During the Summit, Dr. Blackstock will also be participating in a book signing. This is an opportunity you will not want to miss, so register by June 13 for the early-bird rate!

If you are interested in sponsoring the summit, please email healthequitysummit@phcdocs.org for more information on sponsorship levels and pricing.

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PHC now accepting nominations for 2025 Health Equity Leadership Awards

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) is now accepting nominations for its annual Health Equity Leadership Awards, which will be presented at the Health Equity Leadership Awards Reception on July 10, 2025, during the Health Equity Leadership Summit.

All nomination forms and accompanying materials must be submitted by April 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., to healthequitysummit@phcdocs.org.

Honorees will be notified of the selection decision by the end of May. Honorees or a representative must be present at the Health Equity Leadership Summit Leadership Awards Reception in Pasadena to receive the award.

For more information or to submit a nomination, follow the links below.

• Sparks Leadership Award honoring those dedicated to improving community health
• Mahal Access to Health Care and Disparities Award recognizing efforts to improve health care access or reduce disparities
• Staggers Outstanding Ethnic Physician Organization Award celebrating ethnic physician organizations improving community health
• Diverse Physician Leadership Award recognizing diverse physicians for leadership benefiting their communities
• Medical Student Health Equity Leadership Award honoring medical students working to advance health equity.
• Resident Health Equity Leadership Award acknowledging a resident advancing health equity and leadership in medicine
• Young Physician Health Equity Leadership Award celebrating young physicians improving access, cultural competency, and patient advocacy

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New additions to PHC resource library

To improve California's lung cancer screening rates, Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) has added a comprehensive lung cancer section to our Resource Library, providing essential tools and information throughout the patient care journey.

This resource is designed to support patients and health care providers at every stage of lung cancer care. Explore up-to-date guidelines, risk assessment tools and patient communication resources, aiming to simplify complex processes, foster collaboration and promote informed decision-making for improved health outcomes.

Health care providers will find valuable materials such as the latest screening protocols, treatment guidelines and information on multidisciplinary care approaches. Patients and their families can access resources to better understand their diagnosis, treatment options and supportive therapies.

Click here to access the library.

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PHC awards $30K to fund medical student projects in latest cycle of MedStudentsServe

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC), the charitable arm of the California Medical Association, today announced over $30,000 in MedStudentsServe awards to support medical student projects across the state that will enhance the health and well-being of California’s communities.

The 13 medical student organizations and groups awarded in this cycle will support projects ranging from mobile clinics providing critical care to underserved communities, vision screenings for the unhoused, trauma-informed services for survivors of violence, and preventative health fairs tackling chronic disease, to initiatives improving indigenous health literacy and humanitarian aid.

The MedStudentsServe program aims to develop the next generation of California’s physician leaders. The funds are a part of a program administered by PHC and funded through endowment and restricted funds, which fund medical students or student organizations that support educational, advocacy, community service and outreach programs that enhance the health and well-being of California’s communities.

Among this year’s awardees are:

Student-Run Free Eye Clinic (California Northstate University College of Medicine)
This initiative provides free vision screenings and ophthalmic materials to medically underserved communities in the Greater Sacramento area. Focusing on BIPOC individuals, LGBTQIA+ populations, immigrants, refugees, and people experiencing homelessness, the project offers comprehensive eye exams and glasses, blood pressure checks, and educational materials. By reducing barriers to essential eye care, this program improves health outcomes and supports marginalized groups with culturally competent services.

La Cosecha Health Fair (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA)
La Cosecha’s health fair addresses the critical health care needs of California farmworkers, a vulnerable and underserved population. Building on last year’s success, which served 300 individuals, the 2025 event will offer expanded services, including indigenous language translators, skin cancer education and preventive screenings. Through partnerships with community organizations, La Cosecha breaks barriers to care, fostering health, safety, and well-being for farmworkers and their families.

Doctor Buddies (University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine)
This impactful program helps neurodivergent children reduce anxiety around medical visits by simulating safe, supportive health care interactions. Children practice using medical tools and communicating about exams, while medical students gain valuable experience providing tailored, compassionate care. By fostering understanding and preparing both patients and providers, Doctor Buddies promotes equitable, non-traumatic health care.

For a full list of this cycle’s awardees and their projects, click here.

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Eastern Plumas Health Care enhances emergency response capabilities with new portable shelters!

Thanks to over $450,000 investment from the COVID-19 Test to Treat Equity Grant Program, run by Physicians for a Healthy California with support from the California Department of Public Health, Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC) recently unveiled state-of-the-art portable shelters that will transform their disaster response and health care delivery.

“These shelters are completely self-contained with heat, air conditioning, generator, lighting, and air purification systems,” said Joanna Garneau, EPHC program manager. “With the addition of hot water, sanitizer handwashing stations, and 10 individual exam rooms and beds, this shelter can easily be deployed to support expanded clinic or emergency room space as needed.”

Designed for versatility, the shelters can serve as command centers, vaccination sites or emergency medical extensions. Whether responding to health emergencies or disasters, EPHC is equipped to act swiftly.

“With these shelters, EPHC will respond to disasters and health emergencies more effectively. Should something require this level of preparedness, we will be ready,” Garneau added.

In total, the COVID-19 Test to Treat Equity Grant program awarded approximately $72 million to 243 safety-net providers, public health systems, pharmacies, community-based and faith-based organizations serving 11+ million patients throughout California. 

Congratulations to EPHC on this milestone!

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PHC reflects on over 60 years of service during December, the Big Month of Giving

December is the Big Month of Giving and Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) has been honored to complete another year of service to California’s patients. For over 60 years, PHC has worked tirelessly to ensure patients have access to high quality, affordable health care. PHC also empowers medical students to develop educational, advocacy and service-related projects and inspire the next generation of California’s physician leaders. 

PHC’s MedStudentsServe program does just that by empowering medical students like Gwendolyn Lee. Now a resident of internal medicine at UCSF, Ms. Lee co-founded an organization called “Students vs Pandemics,” a group of students overcoming traditional academic silos to address complex, real-world challenges that require intersectoral, interdisciplinary innovation. 

While attending medical school at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Ms. Lee launched Homeless Healthcare Collaborative, a chapter of Students vs Pandemics. Through MedStudentsServe, PHC provided funds to develop packages for the local homeless population that included surgical masks, hand sanitizers, feminine products, sunscreen, oral hygiene kits and other products. With support from PHC, the collaborative was able to provide 100 packages for those most vulnerable during a global pandemic.

The collaborative also encouraged medical students to reflect on the importance of social determinants of health and exposed them to community partners by working with numerous nonprofits during Westwood Connect Day, a community event bringing together a broad range of service providers, community partners, governmental agencies and volunteers to serve individuals experiencing homelessness.

Lee is one of many young future physicians who PHC has supported over the last six decades. Our work at PHC is not possible without the continued investment of our supporters. This month, PHC asks that you consider investing in the health of California’s patients by donating to PHC so that we can continue to inspire students like Ms. Lee and help bridge the gap in health disparities with programs like MedStudentsServe.
 

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MedStudentsServe application open until January 10, 2025

PHC is excited to launch the fourth application cycle of MedStudentsServe, a program supporting medical student organizations in their efforts to serve communities across California. From now until January 10, medical students can apply for up to $2,500 to fund educational, advocacy, community service and outreach projects that go beyond standard medical education to address pressing health care needs in underserved populations. A special focus is placed on projects that fill funding gaps typically unmet by medical schools or other local resources.

In past cycles, MedStudentsServe projects have made a meaningful difference, providing services such as free vision screenings for uninsured individuals, mental health outreach, support for undocumented residents enrolling in Medi-Cal, free ultrasound screenings for minority groups and culturally sensitive medical resources. 

To date, these projects have bridged the resource and service gap for over 5,000 patients in California, underscoring PHC’s commitment to improving community health.

We encourage everyone to share this opportunity with those who may be interested in expanding their impact—invite them to submit an application by the January 10, 2025, deadline and join us in our mission to enhance health and well-being across the state.
 

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CalMedForce awards more than $25 million to expand California’s physician workforce

On November 22, 2024, CalMedForce announced its seventh cohort of awardees. The CalMedForce program, in partnership with the University of California, funds residency positions at graduate medical education (GME) programs throughout California. The program—made possible by the Prop 56 tobacco tax—addresses the state’s physician shortage, particularly in underserved communities where patients often lack access to timely, high quality health care. 

This year’s total investment in CalMedForce was a little over $25 million. In this cycle, 142 programs were awarded to support 184 resident positions. 

CalMedForce funded 30 new programs, 14 existing programs and 98 current programs. Among the awarded programs, an average of 78% of their patient load is Medi-Cal, dual-eligible, indigent and uninsured patients. 

This application cycle, PHC received 173 applications from GME programs across California. In total, requests from applicants totaled $136 million to fund 773 resident positions. 

To date, CalMedForce has awarded more than $251 million to fund 1,366 resident positions across 31 California counties.
 

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