NYCU January 6, 2026 January 6, 2026 Advocacy, CMA, Infectious Disease, Medi-Cal, Public Health, Regulations, SDCMS, Trump Administration, Vaccines 0 TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026 PHYSICIANS: On January 5, 2026, the SDCMS Nominating Committee convened and is recommending a proposed slate of SDCMS Board of Directors candidates for 2026–27. If you’d like to see the list of the nominees and information for anyone who wishes to seek nomination through petition please CLICK HERE. Pending final approval of the proposed slate by the SDCMS Board of Directors on January 20, 2026, SDCMS bylaws allow for nomination by petition. If the requisite number of signatures is received, the petitioner will be placed on the ballot. For details on the number of signatures required, email Paul Hegyi at Hegyi@SDCMS.org. Nomination petitions may be mailed to SDCMS (Attn: Paul Hegyi), 8690 Aero Drive, Suite 115–220, San Diego, CA 92123. Petitioners who would like their candidacy statement published in San Diego Physician magazine must be received by February 13, 2026; otherwise, completed petitions must be received at SDCMS no later than April 1, 2026. Physician candidates must have been a member of SDCMS for at least two years on the date of assumption of duties in June 2026. If you have questions, please call SDCMS at (858) 565–8888 or email us at SDCMS@SDCMS.org. CMA PUBLISHES ITS 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW | A YEAR OF NONSTOP BATTLES TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE California Medical Association (CMA) has published its Year in Review report for 2025. The past year brought nonstop battles to protect health care. CMA engaged at the federal level throughout the year — pushing back against a series of efforts that threatened to undermine core public health protections, including the removal of all Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) members and proposals that would weaken evidence–based public health policy. CMA also challenged the sharing of Medicaid patients’ sensitive data with Homeland Security, and pushed back against broader federal proposals to weaken key physician and patient safeguards — from attempts to scale back the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and lower federal loan maximums to new restrictions on gender–affirming care. At the same time, CMA continued pushing for policies that would protect coverage and access, including extending telehealth coverage, preserving ACA premium tax credits and protecting Medicaid funding. The year’s challenges were also felt at the state level. Governor Newsom’s May budget diverted critical Prop 35 funds to address budget shortfalls. After significant pressure from CMA, the first bucket of Prop 35 funding was released in the late summer. It has been one battle after another, but CMA remains steadfast. We will continue fighting for physicians, patients and the communities we serve. You can see CMA’s 2025 Year in Review to read more about CMA’s work this past year ensure the physicians of California have the support they need to deliver the highest quality of care to the people of California. BE SURE TO FOLLOW SDCMS ON INSTAGRAM @sdcms1870 SDCMS is on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Linkedin. Now you can follow San Diego County Medical Society on Instagram at sdcms1870. We post regularly on all four social media platforms so please stay up to date on the latest SDCMS developments and CMA/SDCMS policy actions, health care news or continuing education opportunities by checking our social media. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Paul Hegyi, CEO WHAT TO KNOW … Providers Brace for Medi–Cal Cuts: ‘We May Not Be Able to Serve Everybody’ CLICK HERE Parents Who Delay Baby’s First Vaccines Also Likely to Skip Measles Shots CLICK HERE Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Know CLICK HERE One Doctor’s Experience Shows the Battle for the Future of Addiction Medicine CLICK HERE Trump Admin Drops Childhood Vaccination Reporting Requirement CLICK HERE Hospitals Win Temporary Block to 340B Rebate Program CLICK HERE Expanded Cervical Cancer Screenings to Be Covered By Most Private Insurance CLICK HERE First Pill Version of Wegovy for Obesity Launches in US CLICK HERE Exclusive: 40 Million Turn to ChatGPT for Health Care CLICK HERE WHAT TO DO … JAN 13, 2026: 12-1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, Non–Members, NPs, and PAs, sponsored by CMA and CDPH, ‘Virtual Grand Rounds: The Continued Evolution of Public Health — Recent Federal & State Changes’. The CDC Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently voted to eliminate the universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendation, overturning longstanding vaccine guidance with no new evidence to justify the change. CMA called this a “profound setback for child health in America,” while other specialty groups also publically disapprove. With several additional efforts to review vaccines underway at the federal level, more change may come. Join Erica Pan, MD, MPH, CA State Public Health Officer & Director of CDPH, for a candid conversation about these changes, current California recommendations plus the winter respiratory virus season and other emerging public health issues . CME Credit Available CLICK HERE JAN 27, 2026: 12:15–1:15pm, FREE Webinar for Members and their Staff, $99 for Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘New Laws Affecting Physicians 2026’. This webinar will discuss the new 2026 laws that are affecting physicians and their practices, highlight pending health legislation and explain CMA’s legal resources available to members. Featuring CMA Senior Legal Counsel Sheirin Ghoddoucy, with a focus on CMA’s legal and legislative advocacy, managed care, and provider reimbursement. For free CMA member staff registration, email events@cmadocs.org with your physician’s CA Medical License number to receive a promo code CLICK HERE JAN 29, 2026: 12–1pm, FREE Webinar for Members, $35 for Non–Members, sponsored by CMA, ‘Words Matter: Removing Biased and Stigmatizing Language from Clinical Communication’. Clinical communication has the power to uplift patients or leave them feeling unheard. Address the critical impact of stigmatizing clinical language that casts doubt on patient experiences, implies blame, or defines patients by their conditions. Biased language towards patients with diabetes, obesity, substance use disorders, and chronic pain can increase patient shame, reduce treatment engagement, influence provider perceptions, and create lasting negative electronic medical records. This webinar will enhance your awareness of stigmatizing language patterns while providing practical tools for clinicians to identify and replace biased terminology with neutral alternatives. Reduce healthcare disparities through more respectful, person–centered communication. CME Credit Available CLICK HERE MAR 5-7, 2026: 8am daily, Catamaran Resort, San Diego, Sponsored by UCSD SOM, ‘13th Annual Essentials & Advances in Apheresis Therapies Conference’. Learn practical, multi–disciplinary up–to–date insights how apheresis is shaping care across medicine. Featuring debates including lipoprotein apheresis vs. plasma exchange in FSGS, controversies surrounding plasma exchange in ANCA–associated vasculitis, plus new data comparing high– versus standard–volume plasma exchange in acute liver failure. Review emerging topics like plasma exchange for longevity and microplastics exposure, as well as advances in gene therapy, photopheresis, immunotherapy–related complications, and transplant desensitization/rejection. CME Credit Available CLICK HERE APR 8, 2026: 8am, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, hosted by CMA, ‘52nd Annual Legislative Advocacy Day’. California Medical Association consistently brings together more than 400 physician and medical student leaders from all specialties and modes of practice. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislators on priority health care issues. Gain hands–on experience while learning the nuts and bolts of advocating for both your patients and your profession CLICK HERE WHAT TO READ, LISTEN & WATCH … Podcast ‘What the Health?’ Time’s Up for Expanded ACA Tax Credits LISTEN HERE Alzheimer’s Project Clinical Roundtable Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series on Dementia WATCH HERE Champions for Health & TDC’s Free On–Demand CME Webinar Series ‘Innovations and Smart Approaches in Safe Prescibing’ to Help Fulfill DEA Training Requirements (Modules 1–5) WATCH HERE SDCMS Video Archive: View our FREE digital catalog of videos & webinars WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Are You Ready for the New California Laws? WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: The Impact of a Medical Board Investigation on Your Practice WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Strategies to Enhance the Patient Experience and Reduce Your Risk WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Top Five Risks for Your Practice WATCH HERE SDCMS Webinar: Understanding the Anatomy of a Lawsuit WATCH HERE Please Consider Supporting Our Advertisers … Thank You! This Email Was Sent to [[FIRSTNAME]] [[LASTNAME]] at [[EMAIL]] From the San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) Comments are closed.