San Diego County Medical Society

08/04/2026

Our new President, Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros, was a key speaker at a press conference this past week where dozens of organizations across San Diego County came out against Proposition 44 on the November ballot as a reckless initiative that will have a disastrous impact for hundreds of thousands of San Diegans who rely on community health centers for essential health care.

"Proposition 44 will be devastating for patients here in San Diego and across California. The measure includes arbitrary requirements that will take important resources away from patient care, which will result in patients having to depend on emergency rooms rather than the preventative services that keep communities healthy," declared Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros.

An independent study by the Berkeley Research Group found that Prop. 44 would cut $1.7 billion in the first year alone from community health centers and clinics and result in 88 percent of clinics operating in negative margins. As a result, clinics that care for millions of patients every year are at significant risk of being forced to cut back on services or even shut down. Get more information at noprop44.com/

07/30/2026

CMA has published its 2026 Mid-Year Legislative Update, providing an overview of CMA's sponsored legislation, key advocacy priorities and legislative victories as the session enters its final weeks.

As the state legislature quickly approaches the final month of the 2025-2026 legislative session, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published its 2026 Mid-Year Legislative Update. The report highlights CMA's ongoing advocacy on legislation impacting California patients, the medical profession and public health.

While California's budget deficit continues to shape legislative priorities, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the year's defining policy issues, alongside major debates over funding Medi-Cal financing and prescription drug affordability. Throughout the session, CMA has successfully defeated or amended numerous measures that would have expanded scope of practice without appropriate safeguards and training, increased unnecessary administrative burdens, or undermined physician clinical judgment.

CMA has published its 2026 Mid-Year Legislative Update, providing an overview of CMA's sponsored legislation, key advocacy priorities and legislative victories as the session enters its final weeks. ...

07/28/2026

Organizations serving California's rural communities can now apply for up to $8 million in funding through HCAI's CalRHT Accelerator Partner Grant Program to strengthen rural health care access, workforce, telehealth and care coordination. Applications are due August 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PT.

Administered by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), CalRHT is part of the federally funded Rural Health Transformation Program, which is investing $233.6 million in California to strengthen rural health care access, workforce, technology and long-term sustainability.

Organizations serving California's rural communities can now apply for up to $8 million in funding through HCAI's CalRHT Accelerator Partner Grant Program to strengthen rural health care access, work...

07/24/2026

Join on Tuesday, August 11, at noon for the next installment of the California Medical Association's (CMA) Virtual Grand Rounds, Is Menopause Having a Moment? Updates in Menopause Care.

Menopause and hormone therapy have become increasingly prominent topics in both the media and clinical practice, yet many physicians continue to face questions about best practices for managing menopausal symptoms and the appropriate use of hormone therapy. This month's Virtual Grand Rounds will examine the latest evidence on menopause care while also providing updates on emerging public health issues affecting California physicians.

Join us on Tuesday, August 11, at noon for the next installment of  CMA's Virtual Grand Rounds, Is Menopause Having a Moment? Updates in Menopause Care. This month's Virtual Grand Rounds will examine...

07/23/2026

The CMA Board of Trustees has voted to support Proposition 3, a November ballot measure that would permanently extend California's existing tax on the state's highest-income earners to protect funding for Medi-Cal and other essential health care services. The measure would help preserve a stable, long-term source of funding for California, which helps protect the health care safety net at a time of growing financial uncertainty.

The CMA Board of Trustees has voted to support Proposition 3, a November ballot measure that would permanently extend California's existing tax on the state's highest-income earners to protect fundin...

07/14/2026

A California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored bill to reduce unnecessary prior authorization delays and protect patients’ continuity of care cleared its first legislative hurdle last week. Authored by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, Assembly Bill (AB) 539 would ensure that once a health plan approves a prior authorization, it remains valid for the duration of a prescribed course of treatment, up to one year.

Today, physicians are often forced to repeatedly seek re-authorization for the exact same treatment, even after a health plan has already determined it is medically necessary and when nothing in the patient's condition has changed. These unnecessary administrative hurdles delay care, take physicians away from patient care and drive up health care costs.

A CMA-sponsored bill to preserve patients’ continuity of care by requiring prior authorizations to remain valid for at least one year advanced out of the Senate Health Committee last week.

07/13/2026

CDPH is alerting providers to increased mpox activity, including a rise in travel-related clade I cases and a threefold increase in clade II cases statewide this year. Clinicians should consider mpox in patients with compatible symptoms regardless of vaccination status.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging health care providers to maintain a heightened suspicion for mpox following an increase in travel-related clade I cases entering California and a sharp rise in clade II cases statewide this year.

Since January 2026, California has identified seven travel-related clade I mpox cases—already exceeding the five total clade I cases reported during 2024 and 2025 combined. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 25 travel-related clade I cases since November 2024, with more than half occurring since March 2026. CDPH said increasing community transmission in several countries, including parts of Western Europe, is expected to result in additional travel-related cases in California.

CDPH is alerting providers to increased mpox activity, including a rise in travel-related clade I cases and a threefold increase in clade II cases statewide this year. Clinicians should consider mpox...

07/08/2026

Congratulations and gratitude to San Diego's own Dr. Ted and Marcy Mazer for establishing the Dr. Ted and Marcy Award for Leadership, Mentorship and Advocacy, which will provide up to $2,500 annually to support California medical students, residents, early-career physicians and programs that foster physician leadership, mentorship and advocacy. The application period runs from July 1 through August 14.

The California Medical Association (CMA) and Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) are proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Ted and Marcy Mazer Award for Leadership, Mentorship and Advocacy, a new initiative to recognize and cultivate the next generation of physician leaders.

Made possible through a $50,000+ gift commitment from CMA Past President Ted Mazer, M.D., and his wife, Marcy, the award will provide up to $2,500 annually to support medical students, residents and early-career physicians, or to people or programs who support them, who demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedication to health care leadership and advocacy for physicians and patients.

Applications are now open for the new Dr. Ted and Marcy Mazer Award for Leadership, Mentorship and Advocacy, which will provide up to $2,500 annually to support California medical students, residents...

07/02/2026

Six of our former San Diego County Medical Society Presidents joined our new SDCMS President, Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros of San Ysidro Health, in welcoming her to this special group of local physician leaders at the SDCMS Presidential Installation and Champions for Health Gala.

(left to right) Dr. Steve Koh, Dr. Will Tseng, Dr Lasé Ajayi, Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros, Dr. Preeti Sonni Mehta, Dr. Bob Hertzka, and Dr. Sergio Flores.

06/30/2026

Congratulations to our new San Diego County Medical Society President, Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros, Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer for San Ysidro Health.

Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros began her one-year term on Saturday night at the SDCMS Presidential Installation and Champions For Health Gala, held at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Dr. Carrriedo-Ceniceros delivered a thoughtful and inspiring address to the over 300 people in attendance at the annual event.