Sundari Mase, MD, MPH

At the end of February, Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted the state’s Public Health Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, I lifted Sonoma County’s Local Public Health Emergency, which had been in place since March 2, 2020.

These actions do not suggest that we have eliminated COVID-19, but rather that we are now in the endemic phase of the virus that has altered so much of our lives for the past three years. The variants of COVID-19 in circulation today are not as severe as those in the early days of the pandemic. Armed with widely available vaccines and much more knowledge about the virus, we no longer must treat COVID-19 as an emergency. Indeed, President Joe Biden has signaled that he will end the federal Public Health Emergency on May 11.

These moves will bring about several changes in the public infrastructure that we have set up to fight COVID-19, both locally and nationally. At the end of last month, Sonoma County closed two of the last remaining public vaccination clinics in Roseland and at the Rohnert Park Community Center. Continue reading

Andy Coren, MD

The federal and state orders regarding the COVID-19 pandemic are ending. This is not the end of the pandemic threat, but it is a testament to the collaboration between the medical community and Public Health. Our communities can now protect themselves and their families with available vaccines, testing, and treatments — along with routine medical care. As these emergency orders change, please ask your patients to check their insurance coverage to avoid lapses. Other major improvements are coming to coverage of both publicly and privately insured patients. We need to stay informed and encourage our patients to check their insurance benefits.

To keep our communities strong, we must now turn our attention to equitable preventive care. We must continue to recommend vaccinations, not only for COVID-19, but also for the many preventable communicable diseases. During the pandemic years, vaccinations for all age groups fell behind, especially for children. Additionally, prenatal and women’s services are always a high priority. We must address mental health and drug abuse problems. Finally, we must use this respite from COVID-19 to continue working together to build resilience to climate change and to address equitable Aging-in-Place issues in our communities. ◊

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

CMA Legislative Advocacy Day 2023

The California Medical Association will host its 49th annual Legislative Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Sacramento.

CMA's Legislative Advocacy Day 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 regarding priority healthcare issues.

Please join your SMLMA colleagues for this important day at our state capitol. Register via the link below or contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@smlma.org.

Advocacy Day preparation WEBINAR: March 29, 7:00 p.m. CMA-hosted webinar to discuss Advocacy Day and best practices for legislative office visits. Link will be sent to all registered attendees.

CALPAC Advocacy Day RECEPTION: Tuesday, April 18, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Gathering for legislators and physicians to enjoy time together prior to Advocacy Day. Location and details to be announced.

NEW BIMONTHLY FEATURE

Introducing Residents Corner

SMLMA is pleased to present RESIDENTS CORNER, a new News Briefs section that will feature articles written by Residents in participating Family Medicine Residency programs. We’ll rotate the space between Adventist Health and Kaiser Permanente — featuring articles* written by each program’s Residents every other month. Our goal is to provide a forum for Residents to share their work and research with others in the medical community.

Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency

KP Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency matched its first class of six Residents in July 2018. This dynamic program builds on Kaiser Permanente’s 70-year commitment to graduate medical education and the long heritage of Santa Rosa as a model for full-scope Family Medicine practice and education. For more information about KP’s program, visit the website or contact Shannon McDermott at Shannon.C.McDermott@kp.org.

Click on the titles to read or download the articles.

Baby Steps – 3rd-year Resident John Callander discusses how small steps are the key to making lasting health changes.

The Five Pillars of a Healthy Life – 3rd-year Resident Constantine Kulkoff writes about the five interconnected pillars of a healthy life.

Breaking the Cycle – 2nd-year Resident Eduardo Alvarado reflects on how he is taking steps to address racism and intergenerational trauma.

*Articles have been reviewed by program faculty and are intended as informational only. Publication of an article does not represent endorsement or approval by the Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake Medical Association.

SEATS STILL AVAILABLE MARCH 2

Dinner program for physicians and Residents

Financial Health FREE networking dinners and presentations resume March 2. Hosted by SMLMA Business Partner Russell Van Sistine CFP® and Sonoma Wealth Advisors, these lively and engaging gatherings for SMLMA physicians and Residents include cocktails, dinner, and discussion of financial topics requested by attendees.

Location: Ca'Bianca Ristorante Italiano

Thursday, March 2, 2023 • 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

835 Second Street, Santa Rosa

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Dinner seating is limited. Reserve your place now!

Contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@smlma.org

NO COST for SMLMA physicians and Residents

The Medical Arts Project resumed in January with a stamp-making workshop (participants pictured above). Details for a March session are now being worked out. Please check the MAPS website for information.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Visit the MAPS website for workshop details and to register.

General questions: sonomamedicalarts@gmail.com

SMLMA is pleased to sponsor this INNOVATIVE PHYSICIAN WELLNESS INITIATIVE, a collaboration between Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency and Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency. Open to all community physicians, residents and faculty of the residency programs.

Principled Medical Management provides financial management, operations management, organizational governance, business development and marketing, human resource management, risk and compliance oversight, and strategic planning for solo and small group practices. PMM's mission is to serve physicians so they can serve patients. Visit www.principledmedical.com

EVENTS

The World Affairs Council of Sonoma County is honored to present eminent oceanographer and researcher Gregory Stone, PhD, speaking about climate change and the crisis in our oceans. This not-to-be-missed important talk is FREE, but you must register to attend. Program speaker sponsored by Dr. Joe Clendenin.

"At the Crossroads"

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 • 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Glazer Center • 547 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa

RECEPTION TO FOLLOW PROGRAM

JOB OPENINGS

Looking for an internal medicine physician interested in quality of life while still delivering excellent care to patients. Are you interested in slowing down, taking time with your patients, and taking more and longer vacations? Me too! Come work with me in Healdsburg, share space and fantastic medical assistants, and most importantly, cover each other so we can take the vacations we deserve. Contact Dr. Rachel Mayorga at 707-755-0095.

IN THE NEWS



Healdsburg and Petaluma Valley hospitals were recently recognized by Partnership HealthPlan for excellent care across multiple measures of quality. The two hospitals were part of a group of nine hospitals across 14 Northern California counties to receive at least 90% or above by Partnership HealthPlan’s Hospital Quality Improvement Program (Hospital QIP). Both hospitals are secular affiliates of Providence. See individual press releases for Healdsburg and Petaluma Valley performance details. 

FREE FOR SMLMA MEMBERS



SMLMA members can place FREE classified ads or announcements on the Community Bulletin Board. Cost for nonmembers is $1 per word. Contact Susan Gumucio at 707-481-8995 or susan@smlma.org.

UC San Diego

Screening and Management of Age and Medically-Related Driving Impairments

A course to manage impaired drivers and reduce physician liability by improving adherence with mandated reporting requirements in California. SEE FLIER FOR DETAILS.

Thursday, March 9, 2023 • 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

California Medical Association

Virtual Grand Rounds: The Changing Landscape of Reproductive Health – What Clinicians Need to Know

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

SAVE THE DATE: CMA Legislative Advocacy Day

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 • Sacramento, CA | REGISTER HERE

SAVE THE DATE: 35th Annual Virtual Conference on Physician's Well-Being

Presented by Riverside County Medical Association, program is designed to assist hospitals and healthcare organizations comply with Title 22 Regulations on matters related to health and wellness, addiction, mental illness and behavioral issues of physicians and other healthcare providers.

Friday, May 19, 2023 • 8:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | REGISTER HERE  

SAVE THE DATE: CMA's first annual health IT conference

HEALTH IT: Powering Value-Based Care

Monday, May 22, 2023 • 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sacramento, CA | REGISTER HERE

Sutter Health

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. Interactive Q&A session takes place with each live event. Learn about the series here.

Multiple Sclerosis: Why Early Diagnosis and Treatment Matters

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

"I-NEED-HELP": How to Quickly Identify Advanced Heart Failure

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

Delirium and Related Distress: Prevention and Early Intervention

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

A New Era for the Perimenopausal or Menopausal Woman

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

Narrative Medicine: How Stories Can Transform Healthcare

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | REGISTER HERE

Congratulations, new SMLMA members!

We look forward to supporting you and your practice.

PROVIDENCE MEDICAL GROUP

Clelia Atkins Clark, MD

Emergency Medicine

Kathleen Babington, MD

Peditatrics

Mary Borses, MD

Cardiovascular Disease

Maria-Claudia Camapagna, MD

Internal Medicine

Peter Chang-Sing, MD

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology

Deborah Colina, MD

Emergency Medicine

Lamarr Echols, MD

Emergency Medicine

Abraham Flinders, MD

Emergency Medicine

Guadalupe Hedrick, MD

Pediatrics

Malhar Jhaveri, MD

Internal Medicine

Sana Khan, MD

Internal Medicine

Abhinav Koul, MD

Gastroenterology

THE PERMANENTE MEDICAL GROUP

Ryan Brown, MD

Otolaryngology

Karen Chong, MD

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Francis Cyran, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery

Emily Gonzalez, MD

Internal Medicine

Calvin Hang, MD

Internal Medicine

Aliya Kohler, MD

Family Medicine

Tatyana Kopilova, MD

Surgery

Alexander Lam, MD

Emergency Medicine

Trevor Landas, MD

Emergency Medicine

Shane Lavin, MD

Occupational Medicine

Michelle Lee, MD

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Angela Niemi, MD

Pediatrics

Nhung Quach, MD

Internal Medicine

Christine Scullywest, MD

Emergency Medicine

BARTH VISION & OPTICAL

Gary Barth, MD

Ophthalmology

SUTTER MEDICAL GROUP OF THE REDWOODS

Michael Johl, MD

Internal Medicine

Priyanka Kadaba, MD

Radiology

Megan Pesyna, DO

Pediatrics

INDEPENDENT

Laurence Saben, MD

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

To learn more about becoming a CAP member, please contact Dorine Leong at 650-543-2183 or DLeong@CAPphysicians.com. Request an Instant Quote today to see how much you can save on medical malpractice coverage as a member of CAP.