News

July 1, 2026

PHC announces Mazer Award for Leadership, Mentorship and Advocacy

The California Medical Association (CMA) and Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) are proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Ted and Marcy Mazer Award for Leadership, Mentorship and Advocacy, a new initiative to recognize and cultivate the next generation of physician leaders.

Made possible through a $50,000+ gift commitment from CMA Past President Ted Mazer, M.D., and his wife, Marcy, the award will provide up to $2,500 annually to support medical students, residents and early-career physicians, or to people or programs who support them, who demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedication to health care leadership and advocacy for physicians and patients.

“Strong physician leadership is essential to ensuring that physicians have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of health care and advocating for their patients and communities,” said Dr. Mazer. “Marcy and I are proud to support the next generation of physician leaders by helping to cultivate the leadership, advocacy and mentorship skills that are critical to advancing medicine, protecting access to care and improving outcomes for patients. Many of these skills and experiences are distinct from traditional medical training but are essential to effective physician leadership.”

Eligible applicants will include California-based medical students, residents and physicians in the early years of practice across all specialties who have shown a commitment to physician leadership, mentorship and advocacy, or other individuals or programs that support them. The award will support a range of leadership development activities, including mentorship programs, training and advocacy efforts.

The application window opens July 1, 2026, and will close August 14, 2026. For more information and to apply, click here.

We look forward to supporting the next generation of physician leaders through this new award.

June 24, 2026

New data suggests CalHealthCares is helping retain providers in California

As the first CalHealthCares cohorts complete their service commitments, new data suggests the program is helping physicians and dentists build lasting careers serving California communities.

According to a recent review of licensure data, 95% of awardees from both Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 continue to hold active California licenses after concluding their participation in the program. Among awardees who completed the full five-year service commitment, 98% maintained California licensure.

The findings offer an early look at the program's long-term impact beyond loan repayment assistance and required service obligations.

For many participants, CalHealthCares provided financial support that allowed them to focus on patient care and establish practices in communities with significant health care needs. "Receiving the debt relief has enabled me to focus on my efforts as a clinician and to be able to cater to my patients' needs," said Alexander Arin, M.D., a CalHealthCares awardee from Orange County.

Another participant said the experience strengthened their commitment to serving patients in underserved communities. "After this experience over the last five years, I know exactly what needs to be tackled, where I need to be and where my work is needed the most," said Almira Opardija, M.D., an awardee from Fresno County

Awardees have also described the program as an important tool for expanding access to care for Medi-Cal patients throughout California. "Participating in CalHealthCares means participating in a program whose mission is to alleviate huge gaps in health care access," said Dr. Opardija.

Since its launch in 2019, CalHealthCares has awarded more than $200 million in loan repayment assistance to physicians and dentists serving Medi-Cal patients across California. Awardees have collectively provided more than 4 million appointments to Medi-Cal patients.

May 21, 2026

The state of GME in California: What we’re hearing from the field

Across California, graduate medical education (GME) partners are navigating growing workforce demand, limited funding and increasingly complex structural constraints. Recent insights from a Physicians for a Healthy California survey of California GME designated institutional officials found that more than 60% of responding programs want to expand their residency programs.

Additional themes emerging from the survey include:

Demand for training positions continues to exceed available funding
Programs are balancing growth with sustainability
Workforce needs are shifting across both primary care and high-need specialties

These findings underscore the need for sustained investment and coordinated workforce planning across California.

At the upcoming GME Leadership Summit, we’re bringing together leaders from across the state to move these conversations forward grounded in data, informed by experience and focused on solutions.

We’re also proud to feature speakers who are shaping the future of GME through innovation, partnership, and advocacy!

Register now to join the conversation.

April 30, 2026

PHC releases 2025 Annual Report

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2025 Annual Report, available here. This annual report memorializes PHC’s major achievements, highlights program successes and shares the organization’s financial statements. We look forward to continuing our work in the coming years.

April 29, 2026

PHC to convene statewide GME summit to address physician workforce challenges

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) will host a statewide Graduate Medical Education (GME) Leadership Summit this summer, convening experts and stakeholders to address California’s most pressing physician workforce challenges.

The virtual event, titled Building California’s GME Ecosystem — Together, will take place on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The summit will bring together CalMedForce and CalMedForce+ awardees alongside GME thought leaders from across the state, creating space for meaningful dialogue and collaboration across the physician training continuum.

Through a mix of discussion and peer exchange, participants will explore practical solutions to key challenges facing GME, including long-term funding sustainability, persistent workforce shortages, and the need to recruit and retain physicians in rural and underserved communities.

The summit is designed not only to share ideas, but also to surface strategies that can be implemented and scaled across California.

The event will also mark the launch of a new statewide GME Learning Collaborative. Attendees will play an active role in shaping the initiative by identifying priorities, strengthening partnerships and helping build a more coordinated, long-term approach to supporting California’s physician workforce.

For more information, visit phcdocs.org/gme-summit. Questions? Contact Kristy MaKieve at kmakieve@phcdocs.org.

April 6, 2026

PHC programs strengthen California’s workforce

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) has released new regional fact sheets that show the impact of its programs across California’s health care system. Through its graduate medical education (GME) programs, CalMedForce (Prop 56, 2016) and CalMedForce+ (Prop 35, 2024), and its loan repayment program, CalHealthCares (Prop 56, 2016), PHC invests in training, supporting, and retaining health care professionals serving California’s medically underserved communities.

Since 2018, applicants across these programs have requested more than $1.7 billion in funding, total of $678.3 million awarded to support workforce development statewide. While these investments have made meaningful progress, they also highlight a persistent gap between available resources and the level of need. Together, these programs play a critical role in sustaining and expanding California’s health care workforce and improving access to high-quality care.

As conversations continue at the federal level, including drastic changes to health care funding, PHC remains committed to advocating for sustained investments that strengthen training pathways and support communities across the state. Building on this momentum, PHC will host its inaugural GME Leadership Summit virtually on July 21, 2026, with additional details to be shared in the coming months. For questions about the upcoming summit, contact Kristy MaKieve at kmakieve@phcdocs.org.

Explore PHC’s impact in each of California’s regions:

February 6, 2026

Congratulations to this year’s MedStudentsServe awardees advancing community health across California

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) is proud to award more than $30,500 in MedStudentsServe grants to outstanding medical students leading innovative projects to expand access to care and strengthen the health of underserved communities across the state.

This year’s awardees are taking a hands-on, community-centered approach to care. Their projects include partnering with local clinics and organizations to provide memory screenings and caregiver education for Asian American seniors; deliver street-based medical and wound care services to individuals experiencing homelessness; and offer mobile vision screenings with prescription eyeglasses in community settings.

Additional awardees are reducing practical barriers to care through transportation support, expanding routine childhood vaccinations, and leading culturally responsive mental health education programs for youth and families. Together, these projects meet patients where they are—in neighborhoods, schools, shelters, and trusted community spaces—helping ensure care is accessible, welcoming and responsive to local needs.

Through the MedStudentsServe program, PHC invests in the next generation of physician leaders by funding student-driven educational, advocacy, service, and outreach efforts that improve health and well-being throughout California. By empowering students to design and lead real-world solutions now, PHC helps cultivate physicians who are deeply connected to the communities they serve and committed to advancing health equity statewide.

View the full list of this cycle’s awardees and project descriptions here.

February 5, 2026

AMA accepting applications for Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship

The American Medical Association (AMA) is now accepting applications for the next cohort of its Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship, a leadership development program designed to help physicians build skills in policy advocacy and advance more equitable health outcomes.

The fellowship, offered in collaboration with the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, focuses on preparing physicians to address social and structural drivers of health through advocacy, community engagement and systems-level change. The program is designed for physicians who want to strengthen their ability to influence policy and lead efforts that improve health in historically underserved communities.

The fourth fellowship cohort will run from September 2026 through November 2027. The program begins with a three-day, in-person learning intensive and continues with monthly virtual sessions featuring national experts, scholars and policy leaders. Fellows will also participate in additional in-person convenings held in conjunction with key AMA meetings, providing opportunities for networking, mentorship and collaboration.

Physicians and residents with a demonstrated interest in advocacy and advancing optimal health outcomes are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have relevant professional experience; internships and graduate assistantships alone do not meet the program’s experience requirement. AMA membership is not required to participate.

Fellows who successfully complete the program receive a $15,000 stipend and are eligible for continuing medical education credit associated with fellowship activities.

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 16, 2026. In addition to the application and curriculum vitae, candidates must arrange for three professional recommendation forms, which are due by April 10, 2026. Additional information and application materials are available on the AMA fellowship webpage.

December 22, 2025

2025 Impact at a Glance

As we close out 2025, I want to thank you for the partnership and shared commitment that made this year’s progress possible. Together, we continue advancing a common mission: expanding access to care and promoting health equity. Here’s a snapshot of what we accomplished together in 2025.

Investing in the Education Pathway and Delivering Care

We awarded $85 million to 231 residency programs across California, funding 270 new physician training positions focused on regions serving high Medi-Cal populations. Demand approached $460 million, underscoring both the scale of need and the importance of sustained investment in graduate medical education (GME) in underserved communities.

Investing in Physician Leaders

We awarded more than $30,000 to 13 medical student projects statewide, reaching over 2,300 people through free clinics, mobile health fairs, screenings and community outreach—while preparing the next generation of culturally responsive, community-centered physicians. Further, in partnership with the Shared Harvest Foundation, we are documenting the impact of loan forgiveness on physician wellness and retention in underserved areas—demonstrating how targeted financial support advances workforce diversity and health equity.

Advancing Equity

PHC’s work continues to gain recognition beyond California. We hosted our annual Health Equity Leadership Summit and were featured on the Centering Health Equity podcast for our analysis of the Chief Health Equity Officer landscape. We also presented at state, regional and national forums, elevating conversations about workforce diversity and investment in under-resourced communities.

GME Startup Solutions

This year, we re-launched GME Startup Solutions to provide technical assistance to health systems and regional collaboratives building and scaling GME programs in underserved communities—expanding PHC’s role as a capacity builder and thought partner.

Looking Ahead

Progress like this is built on a shared belief that where someone lives should never determine their access to high-quality care. In the year ahead, we will host our inaugural GME Leadership Summit, expand GME Startup Solutions, and continue serving as champions, catalysts and conveners for health equity across California.

Together, we are building a healthier, more equitable California.

With gratitude,

Lupe Alonzo-Diaz
PHC President & CEO

December 22, 2025

Free CME Webinar: Words matter—Reducing bias in clinical communication

The words clinicians use every day—in conversations with patients and in the medical record—have a powerful impact. Language that casts doubt on patient experiences, implies blame, or defines individuals by their conditions can unintentionally increase shame, reinforce bias and undermine treatment engagement.

On January 29, 2026, at 12 p.m., the California Medical Association (CMA) is hosting a live webinar “Words Matter: Removing Biased and Stigmatizing Language from Clinical Communication,” that will examine how stigmatizing language disproportionately affects patients with diabetes, obesity, substance use disorders, and chronic pain, and how these patterns can influence provider perceptions and patient outcomes.

Designed to build awareness while offering practical, real-world solutions, the presentation will help clinicians identify common forms of biased language and replace them with neutral, respectful alternatives that support patient-centered care and help reduce health care disparities.

The live webinar is eligible for one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM and is free for CMA members and their staff, and $35 for all other interested parties.

The California Medical Association (CMA) is accredited by Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The California Medical Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.