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Message from the Director
Greetings,
Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday.
January is National Hobby Month, the perfect time of year to pick up a new hobby or get back into an old one that you haven't thought about in a while! The great thing about having a hobby is that it can take your mind off the pressure of work or other daily stresses. I encourage you to sit down and think about what you really love to do. Consider what sparks passion in your life or what makes you curious.
We have been busy planning for the upcoming 2026 Persuasive Narrative Series Workshop with Brown Miller Communications, which is a great opportunity to explore your passion for PSE change and learn to craft compelling stories that drive action. The workshop will consist of two sessions--an in-person session on Wednesday, March 11 followed by a virtual session on Thursday, March 26. We hope you can join us!
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In Health and Solidarity,
Wagahta Semere, MD, MHS
Fellowship Director & Associate Professor
UCSF School of Medicine
| | Reminder: Find articles and resources related to your area(s) of interest by clicking on the icon(s) that correspond to our five focus areas, below: | |
“Helping Youth Breathe Easier: A Story of Empowerment and Healing in Asthma Care"
By: Trang Hoa, MD, FAAP (left) and Lani Nakamura, MD, FAAP (right)
Champion Provider Fellows (Cohort 5, Riverside County)
Mary was a 13-year-old Hispanic girl with obesity who came to my clinic with a note from her school. Her request was simple — she wanted to be excused from gym class. “It’s my asthma,” she said, explaining that every time she tried to run or play, her chest tightened and she felt embarrassed when she had to stop. Read more.
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Dr. Kristen Hughes (Cohort 4, Santa Barbara County)
Dr. Hughes (Cohort 4, Santa Barbara) was named the 2025 Santa Barbara County Physician of the Year by the Central Coast Medical Association on September 18, 2025.
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*Champion Provider Listserv*
Collaborate & communicate with Champion Provider
Fellows across the state about your community change efforts.
NOTE: Please do not use the listserv to promote lobbying efforts or to discuss patient care.
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. The new version prioritizes diets built on whole nutrient-dense foods - protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains.
Read the guideline here.
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Note: Materials included in this section are for reference and information purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the federal government, California Department of Public Health, or the University of California, San Francisco.
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Advancing Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Research to Reverse Upward Trends in Obesity Prevalence - A New Call to Action.
Chriqui, J. F., Dubowitz, T., & Shiriki Kumanyika. 2025. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 70(2), 108178–108178.
A new call to action published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine warns that obesity could affect 250 million Americans by 2050. To combat this, researchers argue we must move beyond individual-focused efforts and prioritize Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) research.
Some Key Takeaways for Public Health Leaders:
- Shift to PSE Research: Progress requires a focus on Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes that address the societal drivers of obesity—factors often entirely outside an individual's control.
- Meaningful Partnerships: Research must be co-created with community partners and decision-makers to ensure strategies are equitable, sustainable, and grounded in lived experience.
Read the article here.
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Integrating Dentistry into Interprofessional Healthcare: A Scoping Review on Advancing Collaborative Practice and Patient Outcomes.
Hung M, Birmingham WC, Tucker M, Schwartz C, Mohajeri A. 2025. Healthcare. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13212780.
This scoping review maps the existing evidence on integrating dental professionals into interprofessional healthcare teams, concluding that such collaboration improves patient outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction. Benefits were seen in models such as nurse practitioner–dentist partnerships, particularly in pediatrics and chronic disease care. However, major barriers to integration remain including poor communication, lack of interoperable electronic health records, and role ambiguity, necessitating better education and shared health record systems for more cohesive care.
Read the article here.
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PLACES: Local Data for Better Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2025.
In December 2025, the CDC released an updated PLACES data set. The data set offers small area estimates of a wide variety of health indicators for local communities, which are invaluable for public health organizations and agencies around the country. This project, initiated in 2015, is a collaboration among the CDC, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the CDC Foundation.
Read more and access the data set here.
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Webinar: Partners in Progress: Pursuing Medical Dental Integration (MDI) in Ohio
March 12, 2026
Virtual
The Oral Health Learning Café is an informal, supportive space where professionals can engage with others and learn. The café features a discussion list and monthly webinars that offer information about oral health programs and services (e.g., integrating oral health care and primary care) nationwide, sharing strategies, challenges, lessons learned, and resources. This webinar, presented by Marla Morse, from Oral Health Ohio, and Matt Vermillion from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health will provide an overview of the Medical Dental Integration efforts in Ohio.
Register here.
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National Oral Health Conference (NOHC)
April 13-15, 2026
Oklahoma City, OK
The National Oral Health Conference (NOHC) is "the premier meeting" for those interested in continuing education and networking opportunities within the discipline of Dental Public Health. This will be the 27th joint meeting of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD).
Register here.
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