ACIP Votes on Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations

On December 5, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend individual-based decision-making for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, to infants born to women who test negative for the virus.

Medicine in Service of Community: PAMED’s Community Voluntary Service Award

Ada-Nkem Emuwa, MD, MPH, recipient of PAMED’s 2025 Community Voluntary Service Award, is a physician whose impact reaches far beyond the clinic walls. A Yale-trained doctor with a master’s in public health from Harvard, Dr. Emuwa has built a career rooted in advocacy, equity, and service.

Her journey has taken her from leading HIV programs and public health initiatives to her current role at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, where she continues to champion patient-centered care.

“This award is humbling recognition,” Dr. Emuwa shared. “To be honored by my peers is deeply meaningful—and it motivates me to keep doing what I can from where I am.” Her dedication to public health, diversity, and community empowerment makes her a truly inspiring figure in Pennsylvania’s medical landscape.

2026 PAMED Innovation Grant Letters of Intent Are Now Open!

PAMED is inviting Letters of Intent (LOI) for one-time health innovation grants. These grants will fund projects that encourage, facilitate, recognize and reward innovative and creative approaches to the field of medicine. The project scope should include its potential to be replicated and applied across the state.

PAMED is looking for innovative projects with any or all of the following goals:

• Reduction of health care costs.
• Improvement in access to health care.
• Improvement of quality of care.

Letters of Intent will be accepted until Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

American Cancer Society Prostate Cancer Panel Discussion

A provider panel on prostate cancer, hosted by the PA Cancer Coalition and Men’s Health Workgroup in partnership with the American Cancer Society and Pfizer’s “Change the Odds” initiative, is now available to watch. Tune in to watch experts discuss strategies to strengthen risk assessment, improve early detection, and advance equity in care. The slides from the session are available here.

Join the next IPPS Meeting

The Independent Practice Physician Section (IPPS) will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow independent practice physicians and section leaders as they share a 2025 HOD recap, insights from the 2026 Governing Council, and important committee and PAMED updates.

2026 Year-Round Leadership Academy

Enrollment for the 2026 Year-Round Leadership Academy is now open! This program helps physicians build essential leadership skills through online courses, in-person sessions, and hands-on projects. Earn CME, explore pathways to advanced degrees, and connect with peers and experts as you grow into the leader your organization needs. Register by Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.

Scholarships are available for eligible individuals to help offset program costs. The deadline to apply for scholarship consideration is Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.

State Board of Osteopathic Medicine Education and Volunteer Services (proposed rulemaking) Request for Public Comment

Department of Human Services Mental Health Procedures (proposed rulemaking)

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