What We Fund

UCSD Health has been at the forefront in studying and implementing new technologies in the healthcare space, particularly when it comes to technologies related to artificial intelligence. UCSD was among the first in the country to integrate GPT-4 in electronic medical record messaging in order to study the affects on physician experience and physician messaging time burdens. USCD is also one of the first in the country to implement AI technologies in the delivery of care to assist in early detection of sepsis. This culture of openness to innovation and to better understanding how technological improvements can improve patient care and physician experience is exemplified by the recently inaugurated UCSD Center for Health Innovation and by the recent hiring of UCSD’s first chief health AI officer.

“The Medical Society of Northern Virginia Foundation (MSNVAF) is the charitable arm of the Medical Society of Northern Virginia (MSNVA). The MSNVA service area encompasses four contiguous counties in Northern Virginia, including, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties and several independent municipalities within those county borders. The MSNVAF operates and manages several programs, including a scholarship fund for fourth year medical students, a volunteer specialty care program for local safety net clinic patients, a preceptorship with George Mason University and a physician wellness program. The MSNVA has a long history with the service area community, since its inception, collaborating with other non-profit social organizations, hospitals and county health departments. In the past the MSNVAF also developed and managed a telemedicine solution, a program that collected PPE for health care workers, as well as a health information exchange for community physicians.

“Butte-Glenn Medical Society is a physician-led membership organization located in Northern California. The California Medical Association (CMA) is the only physician organization serving the needs of physicians, patients and of organized medicine throughout the state. Affiliated with CMA, Butte-Glenn Medical Society’s mission is to promote the science and art of medicine, to protect public health, and to promote improvement of the medical profession.

“The ISMA is committed to ensuring that physicians’ expertise and perspectives are influential in shaping health policy and improving the health of patients. ISMA developed and launched an “Advocacy Bootcamp Leadership Training Program” in 2023 to provide physicians the core knowledge and introductory skills needed to become effective advocates in the public policy arena. The program includes monthly Zoom meetings, a visit to the Indiana Statehouse for Physician Advocacy Day, and an in-person capstone session at the end of the training. There is a maximum of 25 participants per cohort for each bootcamp. The course curriculum includes the following topics: how policy is made in Indiana; how physicians can participate in the legislative process; the anatomy of the federal and state legislatures; how to track the progress of bills; the basics of policy assessment, strategy, and framing; an understanding of self-awareness and authentic influence; conflict management and engaging with others; negotiating; and the basics of meeting with policymakers/legislators. “

“Advocates for Better Health’s Dr. Pete Dehnel Public Health Advocacy Fellowship (Fellowship) has become a vital part of the organization’s work and legacy. Since 2018, the Fellowship innovative leadership development and advocacy training has impacted more than 200 physicians and physicians in training giving them the relationships and tools they need to improve the health of their communities.

“In Nebraska we have found that having a continuum of programs available for our physicians who are at various stages of readiness for leadership growth and support during some of the most difficult times has served our physicians well. The Physicians Leadership Academy (PLA) and LifeBridge Nebraska serve as a resource for the other program. LifeBridge coaches are very familiar with PLA and when appropriate will suggest it as a resource to physicians that they are coaching. Likewise, physicians who are participating in PLA have been referred to LifeBridge via the PLA facilitator.

“It is the goal of GPLA to provide organized medicine at the local, state, and national levels an ever-growing population of effective leaders by providing physicians the tools, skills, and learning opportunities to holistically fill the role of leader and to in turn mentor aspiring leaders. Over the 15 continuous years of GPLA, the Program has been led by a hands-on Steering Committee of MAG physicians.

“Wyoming Leaders in Medicine – Physician Leadership Academy maintains quality curriculum and unparalleled wellness benefits for their members while using each weekend session to introduce potential future partners, like members of the Wyoming Hospital Association leadership team and board, to the offerings of their program in hopes of identifying ways the current program can pivot and expand to include a wider audience.

“Mississippi State Medical Association Foundation, along with the Mississippi State Medical Association, seeks to prepare leaders who can rise to the challenges of the complex issues facing medical organizations by helping them to understand themselves, appreciate the differences in others, build relationships, develop and work with teams. This in-depth program provides training in core aptitudes such as communications, marketing, public speaking an advocacy in order to excel as future leaders not only in their practices but also in organized medicine. MSMA Physician Leadership Academy supports the goal of MSMA to advance its leadership efforts.