183720 Physician Champions: Improving the health of underserved Californians

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Carol Lee, JD , CEO, California Medical Association Foundation, Sacramento, CA
Christine Maulhardt , Harder+Company Community Research, Davis, CA
The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation champions improved individual and community health through a partnership of leaders in medicine, related health professions and the community. We strive to address health issues that will become major threats to society and support physicians in their role to tackle the issues by acting as a bridge linking physicians to their communities. We work in collaboration with many partners to achieve significant improvement in key health issues, such as obesity prevention. Our project utilizes physicians' expertise and credibility to encourage social, environmental and policy changes in communities throughout California.

The purpose of the Obesity Prevention Project is to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and their families. The project aims to equip physicians, medical students and other health professionals with the skills and messages necessary to affect change in healthy eating and physical activity among the communities and ethnic groups most impacted by the obesity epidemic. This is done by providing physicians with training and resources on community empowerment, nutrition education, and grassroots advocacy.

By connecting health care providers with strategic partners, such as the Network for a Healthy California, and getting them out of the office setting, the project is able to reach the underserved communities most in need of health promotion messages. Since its inception, the project has trained more than 400 “Physician Champions” and increased the role of health care professionals in obesity and chronic disease prevention.

Learning Objectives:
To illustrate the process of partnership building between physicians and their communities. To demonstrate successful partnerships including physicians which promote community empowerment To describe the success the project has had in drawing together “Physician Champions” focused on community outreach and targeted at reducing obesity and chronic disease.

Keywords: Physicians, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: CAROL ANN LEE, ESQ. California Medical Association Foundation 1201 J Street, Suite 350 Sacramento, CA 95814 (T) 916-551-2562 (F) 916-551-2544 clee@cmanet.org EMPLOYMENT: President and CEO, CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION, Sacramento, CA 1998 – Present. Responsibilities: Oversees the operation of the Foundation, including development and implementation of organizational policies, fundraising, fund investment, grant making, and program activities, oversees staff of 14 and $2.4 million budget. The Foundation focuses on innovative cutting edge projects in the areas of community health, quality improvement, and physician and patient education. Associate Director, Government Relations, CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Sacramento, CA 1986 – 1998. Responsibilities: Analysis of public policy issues, advocacy in legislative and regulatory hearings, formulate strategies for affecting public policy outcomes, draft legislation and testimony, and development of initiative strategies in the following areas: Health insurance, HMOs, PPOs, managed care, medical staff issues, health care competition, physician contracting, access to care, data collection, peer/utilization review, health facility licensure, Medi-Cal, and cost containment. Attorney, STOCKMAN LAW CORPORATION, Sacramento, CA 1984 – 1986. Responsibilities: Litigation, real estate, general corporate law, medical staff issues, antitrust, regulatory and legislative law, HMOs, PPOs, and third-party administrators. Attorney, ABINANTI AND SHIELDS, Eureka, CA 1983-1984. Responsibilities: Litigation, including trial and arbitration; representation of public employee groups; Judge of the Court of Indian Offenses by special appointment. Assistant Legal Counsel, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas 1981-1982. Responsibilities: Drafting all legislation for the Health, Education, and Welfare Committee and the Resources and Development Committee; rendering legal opinions to Congressmembers; and participating in public hearings. Field Director/Office Manager, HUMBOLDT COUNTY CAMP FIRE GIRLS, Eureka, CA 1975-1977. Developed programs, training, camp materials, reduced operating expenses by 10%, planned and directed Summer Camp. Teacher, FORTUNA UNION HIGH SCHOOL, Fortuna, CA 1975. Taught World Cultures, U.S. History, and Government to educationally handicapped students, grades 9 through 12. Research Analyst, HERITAGE FOUNDATION, Washington, D.C. 1976. Researched and analyzed bills before Congress (Health, Welfare and Lobbying bills) for distribution to Congressional and Executive Officials. Research Analyst, U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D.C. 1976. Researched Congressional inquiries concerning legal and financial aspects of the Revenue Sharing Bill. EDUCATION: Legal: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: J.D. , 1980 Admitted to the California State Bar and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Bar. Graduate: HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY: M.A., 1982, Political Science: Partial Secondary Teaching Credential (Social Science) Undergraduate: PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: B.A. Social Science VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: California Society of Health Attorneys: Board of Directors, 2000 – Present; Chair of Education Committee, 2001–Present; Board of Editors, 1995 - 2001. California Hospice and Palliative Care Association: Board of Directors, 1998 – 2001. California Campaign to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health: Executive Planning Committee, 2001 – 2002. California Pharmacy Foundation: Board of Directors, 2003 – Present.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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