Biweekly Briefing Articles

5 Things To Know: H3SD: Heat and Human Health Summit

The H3SD: San Diego’s Heat and Human Health Summit, a climate- and health-focused event hosted by the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente, will feature an educational poster session on Aug. 16 and the summit on Aug. 17 at UC San Diego. Registration is open, and continuing medical education credits are available. 

Associate Member Spotlight: HKS Architects, Inc.

HKS designs comprehensive, healing health spaces. For more than 50 years and across 29 offices worldwide, HKS has been planning and designing places of care that enhance the health experience through integrated, guest-focused care strategy, operations, technology, facility design, and cultural considerations. 

A Life and Career Shaped by Service

Eric McDonald, MD, is retiring this Friday from San Diego County. He will be missed. Dr. McDonald’s career is a testament to compassionate leadership and a sincere commitment to public health.

5 Things To Know: San Diego County Board of Supervisors Appoints Ebony Shelton as CAO

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Ebony Shelton as the new chief administrative officer (CAO), which became effective on June 14. Shelton is the first Afro-Latina in county history to serve in the role and has nearly 20 years of experience working for the county. As CAO, Shelton is responsible for implementing the board’s policies and running the county’s daily operations, which include over 20,000 employees who serve approximately 3.3 million people in the region.

5 Things To Know: FDA Launches MAT-Related Prescribe with Confidence Campaign

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is launching the Prescribe with Confidence campaign to destigmatize medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in primary care settings. OUD is a chronic health condition, which is treatable with medication in a variety of practice settings, including primary care. An estimated 6.1 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older have OUD, which is often unrecognized in primary care settings. For resources that support MAT, visit the FDA’s campaign web page

5 Things To Know: CA Bridge Academy Offers Free Continuing Education Credits

The CA Bridge Academy offers free online courses for nurses, navigators, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants looking to earn continuing education credits and continuing medical education credits. Topics include treating opioid use disorder with buprenorphine or methadone, alcohol use disorder treatment, youth and perinatal-specific treatment, and managing pain with alternatives to opioids.  

5 Things To Know: San Diego County Plans to Transition January Storm Victims to Long-Term Housing

San Diego County, the city of San Diego’s Housing Commission, and the National City Housing Authority have agreed on plans to help residents affected by the January storms to transition out of the county’s Emergency Temporary Lodging program to longer-term housing solutions. This program currently supports over 1,500 people by providing temporary housing, food, and access to mental health services. 

5 Things To Know: Senior Care Workforce Crisis in San Diego and Imperial Counties

The senior care industry in the San Diego County and Imperial County region is facing an urgent crisis as the aging population rapidly grows. Currently, facilities can only accommodate 8% of all seniors in San Diego County and 3% in Imperial County. Compounding this shortage is employers’ limited ability to meet the expanding demand for senior care workers, which current training programs in the region will need to address. 

In an effort to support the region with these challenges, the San Diego & Imperial Center of Excellence commissioned a study to evaluate workforce needs. The research team produced a report that analyzed traditional labor market information to identify employment trends and conducted a survey of 342 current and former senior care workers.