SMLMA Physicians and Friends: It is June in Sonoma County, which means the fog is still firmly in charge, the tourists have arrived anyway, and somehow the roses are blooming despite the fact that locals are still wearing fleece.

June also means something else entirely: choices. This election season, your ballot is full of them. State races, county seats, judicial appointments, measures and propositions — a full menu of decisions that will shape healthcare policy, community resources, and the professional landscape you navigate every single day. As physicians, your perspective on these choices carries particular weight. We encourage you to read carefully, vote thoughtfully, and remember that the people who show up at the ballot box are the ones who get to shape what happens in the exam room.

Of course, choices extend well beyond the ballot. Where to go when you finally, finally take your much deserved summer vacation. Mountains or ocean. Far away or close to home. A beach where someone brings you something cold and you don't have to make a single decision for seven consecutive days. (I strongly endorse this last option.)

Physician burnout is not a buzzword — it is a crisis the medical profession knows intimately. The antidote, in part, is remarkably simple and remarkably hard to actually do: leave. Take the trip. Book the cruise. Let someone else cook dinner in a place where your pager cannot find you. Self-care is not a luxury your patients can afford for you to skip.

We hope that wherever this summer finds you — whether you have escaped to somewhere gloriously sunny or are still loyally wrapped in your favorite Sonoma County fleece — you are finding your slice of warmth, rest, and joy.

Vote. Vacation. Repeat.

With warmth from the still chilly SMLMA home office in Windsor,

Wendy Davies, Executive Director

Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake Medical Association

707-525-4375 | exec@smlma.org | www.smlma.org

Speaking of Vacations! I will be away from the SMLMA office until June 16th. [Adults only, all-inclusive and yes, pool side service!] Please contact Rachel at (707) 525-4375 or via email at Rachel@smlma.org if you need anything. We are still at your service, even during vacation season!

Off to a warm beach and sunshine! Yours, Wendy

Members: Do you need help?

• Problems Getting Paid? CMA provides direct reimbursement assistance to physicians and their staff.

• Practice Empowerment: CMA offers tools, resources and education to empower physician practices.

• Experienced Staff: CMA's practice management experts have a combined experience of over 125 years in medical practice operations

• Reimbursement Help Line: Members can get free assistance by contacting CMA at (800) 786-4262 or economicservices@cmadocs.org.

As a valued leader in our regional medical community, SMLMA is pleased to introduce an exclusive new benefit available to all regional Solo and Small practice physician groups.

We have partnered with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher) — one of the nation's leading insurance brokerage and risk management firms — to offer SMLMA members a no-cost, comprehensive insurance coverage review tailored specifically to independent physician groups in our region.

What Is This Program: Gallagher is offering a technical evaluation of your current insurance coverage — conducted at no cost to you — designed to identify potential gaps, improve coverage and service, and reduce costs.

Groups that typically benefit most from this review are:

•       Independent physician groups not affiliated with a larger health system

•       Groups of 20 or more physicians

•       Smaller groups that own significant real estate or operate other healthcare entities

Groups that complete this review process with Gallagher typically see an average savings of $75,000 on their insurance program.

What Gallagher's Review Covers: Gallagher's licensed risk management specialists will conduct a comprehensive evaluation across all critical areas of your practice's insurance program:

•       Policy exclusions and sub-limits

•       Defense cost structures

•       Limit adequacy

•       Employment Practices Liability (EPL), Stop-Loss Management (SML), and Cyber Regulatory Exposures

•       Contractual risk transfer

•       Benchmarking against comparable medical groups in your region

•       Cost savings opportunities

Gallagher will provide a detailed, written report tailored to your group's specific coverage profile — giving you a clear, independent picture of where you stand and where you can improve.

Contact:

Rachel Burnett: (916) 606-4053 | Rachel_Burnett@ajg.com

Alex Michon: (916) 475-0164 | Alex_Michon@ajg.com

SAVE THE DATE: September 17, 2026 | 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Solo/Small Practice Social at The Croix Estate Winery in Santa Rosa

Join us for wine, nosh and community! RSVP: events@smlma.org | (707) 525-4375

We get it! We understand that requesting an insurance review sounds like a daunting task and everything seems to be going just fine. For physicians and medical group leaders who request an insurance review from Gallagher prior to the social event in September, you will receive a very special thank you gift for your time at the social. (Can't make the social, don't worry, SMLMA will happily deliver your gift to you.) You don't want to miss this thank you gift from Alex and Rachel.

Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, go ahead and make that call to Rachel & Alex today!

Concierge Practice Opportunity — West Sonoma County

Established West County [Sebastopol, California] physician-led practice seeks a physician to develop a concierge panel within a flexible, independent model. Ideal for physicians seeking autonomy, high-quality care, and an alternative to corporate medicine.

Opportunity includes:

• Turnkey setup with established location and infrastructure

• Reduced overhead during ramp-up

• Established patient base with steady referral flow

• Flexible scheduling in a concierge model

Independent contractor structure with path to long-term alignment. A rare opportunity to build your own practice without upfront capital.

Contact: Liz Vicena via email: liz@sebuc.org | www.sebuc.org

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Volunteer Physicians Needed: Help Bring Care to Our Community

The Jewish Community Free Clinic (JCFC) is a volunteer-driven clinic providing free medical care to members of our community. All services are delivered by dedicated volunteers, including many local physicians who consistently share how meaningful and rewarding their experience has been.

JCFC is currently seeking additional volunteer providers and offers flexible scheduling, a supportive work environment, a safe clinical setting, and comprehensive malpractice coverage for all volunteers.

To learn more or get involved, please visit www.jewishfreeclinic.org or contact Donna at director@jewishfreeclinic.org. Additional information about JCFC’s impact and services can be found in the Executive Summary.

California Medical Association| CME Accredited Webinar Programs

See CMA's upcoming events and browse CMA's extensive library of pre-recorded webinars, covering a wide range of medical practice and public health topics.

The Sutter Health Virtual Grand Rounds is a Continuing Education (CE) webinar series hosted by Sutter Health Network providers for all medical professionals across Northern California including Interactive Q&A sessions with each live event.