Become a Friend of the Foundation today and take advantage of a year-end tax deduction The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation invites you to join its mission to improve the health of people throughout California. For over 50 years, the Foundation has been working to improve individual and community health by providing a vital link between physicians and their communities. By launching groundbreaking efforts, such as tobacco education in the mid-1990s, the CMA Foundation has centered itself as a leader in improving the health of Californians and highlighting the great work physicians do in their practices and for their communities. Every dollar of your donation will help to support programs such as our Medical Student Leadership Grant Program and our Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO). Through the Medical Student Leadership Grant Program, our donors have supported the next generation of physician leaders. Through NEPO, a widely respected program that brings together 53 ethnic physician organizations from across the state, donors help to promote programs that support physician-led efforts to address health disparities and access to care. Please visit www.thecmafoundation.org or call (916) 779-6620 to make a tax-deductible donation today and help ensure we are able to continue to inspire young physician leaders and improve health care and the quality of life in California communities. December 21, 2015 General Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations, Public Health, CMA Foundation, Medical Students 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation Celebrates "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week" The week of November 16-22, 2015, is "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week" – a campaign to highlight the problem of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. Every year at least 2 million Americans become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria and at least 23,000 people die from these infections. This cold and flu season, the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation's Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) project reminds physicians and patients to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics. AWARE is a long-term project of the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Since its inception, AWARE’s goals have aimed to: Increase appropriate prescribing of antibiotics; Raise consumer awareness and understanding about the appropriate use of antibiotics; and Mobilize the community to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics. To combat the overuse of antibiotics, the CMA Foundation maintains the “AWARE Toolkit” mobile app containing clinical guidelines for appropriate antibiotic use. The app is free for both Android and iOS platforms in the Google Play and iTunes stores and is a great resource for physicians looking to access the latest prescribing guidelines at their fingertips. Physicians and patients may also access the complete 2015 AWARE Toolkit along with other resources at www.aware.md. For more information, contact Veronica Mijic at (916) 779-6624 or vmijic@thecmafoundation.org. November 10, 2015 General antibiotic resistance, CMA Foundation, Get Smart About Antibiotics Week 0 0 Comment Read More »
Gala tickets still available! Join the California Medical Association (CMA) and the CMA Foundation at the 19th Annual President’s Reception and Awards Gala, Saturday, October 17, 2015, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa in Anaheim, immediately following CMA’s annual House of Delegates session that day. Honored at the event will be Steven Larson, M.D., incoming CMA president; David Folsom, M.D., recipient of the Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Achievement Award; and Michael Lenoir, M.D., recipient of the Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award. Individual tickets and tables of 10 are still available for purchase through October 9. Tickets are $175 per person and tables are $1,750. Component medical societies may purchase a table for $1,500, while corporate table sponsorships are available for $2,000 (additional event recognition included). Space is limited and tickets are selling quickly, so be sure to reserve your seat(s) and/or table(s) before the October 9 deadline. There will not be onsite or week-of ticket sales. In addition to celebrating the extraordinary leadership of individuals and organizations making a difference in the health of Californians, the event will include a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and exciting entertainment care of The Power Mix – a 15-piece band featuring a team of male and female vocalists covering the best-loved songs and dance hits from yesterday and today. Mark your calendars and reserve your seats, as this will be a whimsical night to remember. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit www.cmanet.org/gala. Contact: Jennifer Moller, (916) 551-2541 or jennifer@cmsservices.org. September 23, 2015 General CMA Foundation, House of Delegates, Awards 0 0 Comment Read More »
Sugar-sweetened drinks responsible for 25,000 U.S. deaths each year Research published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, concluded that sugary beverages cause the deaths of 25,000 Americans each year through their contributions to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Globally, sugary drinks contribute to 180,000 deaths each year, with the highest death rate in Mexico. The U.S. ranked second. The study’s authors examined beverage consumption through national dietary surveys gathered by 51 countries from 1980 to 2010. After estimating how sugar-sweetened beverages contribute toward obesity, and how obesity contributes toward various diseases, the researchers were able to conclude how many deaths from those diseases were due to sugary drinks. "This is not complicated," Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., senior author of the research, told the Los Angeles Times. “There are no health benefits from sugar-sweetened beverages, and the potential impact of reducing consumption is saving tens of thousands of deaths each year." Dr. Mozaffarian also serves as dean of Tuft University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. The study on sugary beverages did not examine the effects on children consuming these beverages, but study coauthor Gitanjali Singh predicts dire consequences for the next generation if consumption rates continue at the current rate. For more information on the study, click here. #BeatTheSweet The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation’s #BeatTheSweet project is engaging physicians across the state to educate their patients about sugary drinks and how they increase the prospect of developing diabetes. The CMA Foundation and the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) are both sponsoring the campaign with funding from the California Endowment. As part of the campaign, physicians can request a poster for their offices that shows a large can of soda with the lettering “Type 2 Diabetes” and “Did you know that one junk drink a day can increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 25 percent?” Physicians are encouraged to place the poster in their waiting rooms where patients can see it to help open a dialog on the topic of sugary drinks and their effects on health. Physicians are also asked to take pictures of themselves engaged in conversations with their patients and post them to social media, like Twitter or Facebook, with the hashtags #BeatTheSweet and/or #SugarlessPour. These hashtags will allow the Foundation to find your post. The CMA Foundation will repost photos with these hashtags to its Facebook page. To get your free poster, contact Liza Kirkland at lkirkland@thecmafoundation.org or (916) 779-6643. July 24, 2015 General Diabetes, NEPO, Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations, Public Health, CMA Foundation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation awards 8 new Medical Student Community Leadership Grants The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation's Medical Student Community Leadership Grant Program supports health-related educational, advocacy, community service and other outreach programs that enhance the well-being of California communities. Grant applications are reviewed on a semi-annual basis; the next application deadline is October 30, 2015. The CMA Foundation is proud to announce eight exciting newly-funded programs! MedDiction.com – Medical Student Resource and Dictionary: Students at the UCSF School of Medicine will be creating a simple medical dictionary and medical education resource site that caters specifically to medical students. The goal is to compile high-quality, concise and simple references that students can rely on to learn the most important details of medical diseases. 2015 Ulezi Health Fair: This health fair will take place on September 12, 2015, in Sacramento and is being hosted by UC Davis's Imani Clinic. The Ulezi Health Fair provides health education on chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension, particularly targeting the African American and Latino communities. Touro Tackles Diabetes: Students at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine will collaborate with the Shubrook Lab to build upon the Diabetes Prevention Program in Solano County. Students will create a public campaign on the importance of pre-diabetes screening and awareness. Students will also act as lifestyle coaches and develop supportive programs such as an annual 5K, fitness tracker management and health fairs. R-Health Health Care Technology Conference: This one-day conference, hosted by students at UC Riverside School of Medicine, will explore the potential of harnessing health care technology to improve health care delivery in the Inland Empire. The conference will bring together physician leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs and policy experts. Challenges and Approaches to Health Equity: This one-day conference, hosted by students at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, aims to spark conversations, promote collaboration among health professionals and encourage advocacy to tackle health inequities among current and future patients. Activity Book for Kids: Students at UC Irvine School of Medicine will create an activity book for children who are either hospitalized at the UC Irvine Douglas Hospital or who are at the hospital for an extended period of time because family members are receiving medical treatment. The content for the book will be created in conjunction with high school students aspiring to be physicians. Food Insecurity, Obesity and Implementation of Team KiPOW™ in Santa Ana: Team KiPOW™ is an academic-community partnership that utilizes specially trained medical and undergraduate student mentors to visit elementary school students weekly for interactive nutrition and health lessons. UC Irvine School of Medicine will develop a course on pediatric obesity and nutrition to train student volunteers. Willow Clinic Veteran’s Day Health Fair: This health fair provides screening, health education and referrals to military veterans, who make up a large population of the homeless and uninsured in Sacramento. The clinic is run by students from UC Davis School of Medicine. Due to limited available funding, the CMA Foundation was only able to fund 50 percent of requests during this application cycle. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support future funding of the Medical Student Community Leadership Grant Program. For more information on the program, visit the CMA Foundation website. Contact: Veronica Mijic, (916) 779-6620 or vmijic@thecmafoundation.org. July 13, 2015 Awards, General Medical Students, CMA Foundation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation's 2015 Leadership Awards: Call for nominations The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation and its Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) are seeking nominations for the 2015 Leadership Awards, which celebrate the efforts of extraordinary individuals and organizations who make a difference in the health of Californians. The four awards include: The Ethnic Physician Leadership Award This award recognizes an individual physician for his or her contributions toward the health of various ethnic communities, who has shown great success in eliminating health disparities, addressing access to care, and improving cultural competency and patient advocacy. The purpose of the award is to honor an outstanding physician; inspire other physicians; and to promote leadership, caring and compassion in medicine. Nominations due by August 1, 2015. The Frank E. Staggers, Sr., M.D., Outstanding Ethnic Physician Organization Award This award honors an ethnic physician organization that has taken significant action in improving the health of its community. Applicants will be evaluated based on their contribution to improving the health of their community, success at engaging physicians to be community advocates and efforts to reduce health disparities. Nominations due by August 1, 2015. The Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award This award honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary interest in and efforts to improve access to health care or reduce health care disparities in California. Nominations due by August 22, 2015. The Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Achievement Award This award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary interest in and efforts to improve community health, consistent with the mission of the CMA Foundation—to champion improved individual and community health through a partnership of leaders in medicine, related health professions and the community. Nominations due by August 22, 2015. The Ethnic Physician Leadership Award and the Frank E. Staggers, Sr., M.D., Award will be presented at the annual NEPO Building Healthy Communities Summit in Riverside on September 19, 2015. The Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Award and Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Award will be presented at the CMA Foundation’s Annual President’s Reception and Awards Dinner on October 17, 2015, during CMA’S annual House of Delegates meeting in Anaheim. Nomination information and packets for each award are available at the CMA Foundation website. Contact: Anita Charles, (916) 779-6620(916) 779-6620 or acharles@thecmafoundation.org. Call Send SMS Call from mobile Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype July 13, 2015 Awards, General CMA Foundation, NEPO, Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations, Awards 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation grant applications for medical students due May 29 The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has released its bi-annual request for proposals for the Medical Student Community Leadership Grant Program. Through this program, the CMA Foundation provides grants to California medical student organizations to support innovative health-related programs. Grants for a one-year project range in amounts from $250-$1,000 and are awarded to programs that focus on education, advocacy, community service and other outreach efforts to creatively enhance the wellbeing of California communities. Applications must be submitted by May 29, 2015, to Veronica Ramirez. For more information about the Medical Student Community Leadership Grant Program or to download an application, visit www.thecmafoundation.org/Programs/Medical-Student-Grant-Program. Contact: Veronica Ramirez, (916) 779-6624 or vramirez@thecmafoundation.org. April 23, 2015 General Medical School Grants, CMA Foundation, Medical Students 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation releases adult vaccine schedule To help physicians answer questions posed by the recent measles outbreak in California and to educate adult patients about their vaccination needs, the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has release an adult vaccine schedule that physicians can hand out during patient visits. Many adults may be skipping vaccinations for a variety of conditions, leaving them susceptible to disease. For example, the tetanus vaccine can prevent a deadly bacterial toxin. While adults should get a booster every 10 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last week that only 62.9 percent of people ages 19 to 49 had received the vaccine in the 10 years before 2013. Among people ages 50 to 64, only 64 percent had received the vaccine, and for those older than 65, only 56.4 percent were vaccinated. Another important example is the herpes zoster vaccine, which prevents shingles, a painful blistering disease that can hit anyone over the age of 50 who has had the chicken pox. According to the CDC, just 24.2 percent of people over the age of 60 reported receiving the vaccine, although that was an increase from 20.1 percent a year earlier. The CMA Foundation also encourages those interested in more information to follow #CommunityImmunity via Facebook (facebook.com/cmafoundation) and Twitter (@theCMAF). For a copy of the adult vaccine schedule, click here. Contact: Veronica Ramirez, (916) 779-6624 or vramirez@thecmafoundation.org. February 26, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, CMA Foundation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation launches free antibiotic clinical guidelines mobile app The week of November 17-23, 2014, is "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week" – a campaign to highlight the problem of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. Every year at least 2 million Americans become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria and at least 23,000 people die from these infections. This cold and flu season, the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation's Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) project reminds physicians and patients to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics. To assist physicians and other clinicians in these efforts, the CMA Foundation has launched the “AWARE Toolkit” mobile app containing clinical guidelines for appropriate antibiotic use. The app is free for both Android and iOS platforms in the Google Play and iTunes stores. For more information about "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week" and for physician and patient resources, including the newly released 2015 AWARE Toolkit, visit www.aware.md. Contact : CMA Foundation, (916) 779-6624 or vramirez@thecmafoundation.org November 14, 2014 General AWARE, CMA Foundation, Public Health, Antibiotic Resistance 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation names Lisa Folberg as new president/CEO Sacramento – After nine years of service at the California Medical Association (CMA), Lisa Folberg has been tapped to head up the CMA Foundation. She replaces Carol Lee, who retired late in 2013. The CMA Foundation, dedicated to improving individual and community health through partnerships between leaders in medicine, health care stakeholders and community based organizations, was established in 1963 as a subsidiary of CMA. “I am thrilled to be joining the CMA Foundation,” said Folberg. “The work the CMA Foundation does in public health, access to care and improving quality of care is an essential part of a changing health care delivery system.” As the Vice President of Medical and Regulatory Policy at CMA since 2009, Folberg has been responsible for the day to day operations of policy development and regulatory advocacy for the 39,000 physician member organization. “Lisa’s development of working relationships between CMA and California’s regulatory agencies, production of physician education materials on a myriad of issues and initiation of writing and managing grants for the organization has been integral to the success of CMA,” said CMA CEO Dustin Corcoran. “Her expertise makes her the natural fit to lead the CMA Foundation.” Prior to her role in CMA's Center for Medical and Regulatory Policy, Folberg lobbied for the association on issues relating to Medi-Cal, budget, public health, managed care and rural health. In her role as Associate Director in Government Relations, she organized the Alliance for Patient Care, a group of more than 60 health care stakeholder organizations aimed at increasing access to care for California’s neediest patients. “With health care delivery changing more rapidly than ever before, the CMA Foundation is at the helm of public policy discussions, education and awareness campaigns that will benefit physicians and their patients across the state,” said David Holley, M.D., Chair of the CMA Foundation Board of Directors. “Lisa’s expertise and leadership will prove invaluable as we embark on existing projects and on new endeavors.” Folberg joined CMA from the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, where she provided the Legislature with analyses on a variety of health and social services budget issues. Lisa has also spent time volunteering and working in health clinics, and spent a year in Colombia, South America, developing a public health program for at-risk youth through a World Health Organization/UCSF collaborating project. February 7, 2014 General CMA Foundation 0 0 Comment Read More »
