February 2018
Greetings and Happy Heart Month!
Happy American Heart Month! The first American Health Month was celebrated in 1964 via a declaration by President Lyndon B. Johnson. At the time of the declaration over half of the deaths in the US were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Today, CVD remains the leading cause of all deaths globally with 17.9 million deaths per year. ( American Health Association, 2018 ). Thankfully, you all represent a team of individuals dedicated to changing those statistics.

One of the most powerful ways to improve the health of our communities is through policy change. Healthcare providers carry a lot of weight when it comes to influencing policy. Starting with this month's webinar on sugar-sweetened beverage policies and continuing through the Mini College, we will be providing resources to help you become a little more informed about existing policies and how you can lend your voice and expertise to the discussion. Additionally, we are adding a new Policy Brief section to the e-newsletter to help you stay up-to-date on some key policies and introduce you to some helpful resources.

I look forward to "seeing" you all on the webinar at the end of the month!
In Health,

Vanessa Thompson, MD
Associate Professor, UCSF School of Medicine
Principal Investigator, Champion Provider Fellowship
Upcoming Events
Champion Provider Fellowship Webinar
Sugary Drinks: Using Grassroots Advocacy to Reduce Consumption
Hosted by: California Medical Association 
Wednesday, February 28th
12:15PM - 1:15PM

Click here to register.
CMA logo
Sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) remain the leading source of added sugars in the American diet for both children and adults. Research indicates that higher consumption of SSBs is associated with increased obesity and chronic disease risk, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several local California cities and counties have passed policies to reduce consumption of sugary beverages. This webinar will discuss how communities are working to pass and implement prevention interventions aimed at reducing sugary beverage consumption, and how clinicians can lend their voice during the phases of these local campaigns.

Featured Presenter:
Flojaune G. Cofer, Ph.D., MPH, is an epidemiologist who serves as the Director of State Policy and Research for  Public Health Advocates . Her professional interest is conducting translational research to influence and address emerging and persistent public health challenges through policy.
Champion Provider Fellowship Spring Mini College: Putting P.S.E into Action
Friday, April 20, 8:30AM - 3:30PM ( Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside )

About: Our next in-person training will be Friday, April 20 in San Diego at the Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside . This training is for fellows and local health department representatives. Check-in begins at 8AM. The agenda will include Champion Provider Fellow Work-In-Progress presentations, a panel on food insecurity PSE interventions, workshops that highlight expansion of the PSE Playbook, and a media training. Check-out the agenda here.

Registration: To register for the training click here

Accommodations: To book a hotel room, click here . The group rate is the state rate of $125/night. This rate is available three days pre and post event based on room availability. When you click on the link you will go to the standard reservations page with the link group code CPF pre-loaded. Reservations can also be booked directly through the hotel at 1-619-224-3621 (ask for ext. 701) or call toll free at 1-800-662-8899. Make sure to reference the group code CPF when you call.

More information: For Mini College program updates, go to the event page on the Champion Provider Fellowship website.
Work-In-Progress Call #3 with Dr. Alicia Fernandez
Tuesday, March 27, 12:15PM - 1:15PM (Note the change in date!)

Dr. Alicia Fernandez will be hosting another Work-In-Progress (WIP) call on March 27. To register for the third WIP Click Here . If you are interested in presenting on the call contact Alana Pfeffinger . Here are some resources we shared following last month's WIP: Click here . Note: WIPs are for Champion Provider Fellows only.
Recent Champion Provider Fellow Activities
The Champion Provider Fellowship Quarterly Activity Update for November 2017 - January 2018 was sent out this week for cohort #2 to complete. The reports continue to be a great way for us to collect information about Champion Provider Fellow activities and disseminate it to other fellows and local health departments for shared learning opportunities. Here are some updates from fellows:

  • Alan Siegel, MD (Contra Costa County): Dr. Siegel is in the process of developing a Walk With a Doc (WWAD) chapter at his clinic, West County Health Center. He is currently partnering with the following groups on this effort: Contra Costa Health Services (local health department), ParkRx, and East Bay Regional Park District. To date, seven (7) physicians have signed up to join him in leading walks. Dr. Siegel will also be incorporating an expressive arts therapist into his walks. The kick-off walk is planned for March 31st.

  • Charles Newens, DDS (Sacramento County): Dr. Newens recently participated in the Sacramento County Oral Health Advisory Committee meeting. The committee is tasked with assessing the health needs of the community and developing policies and programs that meet those needs. The committee is funded through Proposition 56. One goal of the committee is to increase the number of dental offices that are providing Rethink Your Drink messaging and tobacco cessation services to clients.

  • Gina Johnson, MD (Los Angeles County): Dr. Johnson is currently implementing a food insecurity screening project within her health system. They are leveraging the platform 1degree to connect patients to local resources. The pilot just launched earlier this month. Dr. Johnson was also interviewed for a piece on NBC 4 about the impact that changes to the Affordable Care Act would have on services provided. The video is available here.
If you are interested in learning more about the activities reported above, please contact Alana Pfeffinger at alana.pfeffinger@ucsf.edu .

Also, don't forget to reach out to the Champion Provider Fellowship team for assistance in moving your PSE work forward.

Policy Brief
The Farm Bill is up for re-authorization this year. The Farm Bill authorizes policies that govern food and agricultural programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or CalFresh in California. The 2014 Farm Bill is currently set to expire on September 30, 2018. ( FRAC, January 2017 )

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the legislation. Here is a presentation that was given during last month's SNAP-Ed Lead Implementing Agency Forum in Sacramento by Jared Call, Managing Nutrition Policy Advocate, California Food Policy Advocates .

The California Food Policy Advocates have recently developed district specific reference guides that allow you to provide information to elected officials about the impact of CalFresh in their districts. The guides are available here .
From the Field: Recent Articles & Publications
From the Field highlights recent articles and publications compiled by Champion Provider Fellowship project team members. We invite Champion Provider Fellows and partners to submit articles and publications for consideration in future e-newsletters. Note: Articles and publications included on this list are for reference and information purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the federal government, California Department of Public Health, or the University of California, San Francisco.
 
Messengers of Truth and Health - Young Artists of Color Raise Their Voices to Prevent Diabetes
Schillinger, D and Huey, N. JAMA. February 14, 2018.
In this article for the Arts and Medicine section, the authors, including UCSF's Dr. Dean Schillinger, outline the The Bigger Picture program and highlight the work of four youth poets. In 2016, The Bigger Picture was able to expand from a regional program (Bay Area based) to a statewide program that now has a presence in 7 California regions that are hard hit by diabetes. Access the article here .

Using Art to Tackle Diabetes in Youth
O'Connor, A. The New York Times. February 14, 2018
The Bigger Picture was also featured recently in the The New York Times. In this article, you can see the videos of the young poets featured in the February JAMA article. Access the article here .

In Sweeping War on Obesity, Chile Slays Tony the Tiger
Jacobs, A. The New York Times. February 7, 2018.
Chile is in the process of implementing some of the most extensive measures to combat obesity in the world. One measure requires companies to utilize a labeling system where foods high in sugar, salt, calories or saturated fat are indicated with a warning label in the shape of a stop sign. Many of the regulations were initially proposed in 2007 by Senator Guido Girardi, who is vice president of the Chilean senate and a doctor. Acess the article here .
Upcoming Trainings
UCSF CME: Medical Care of Vulnerable and Underserved Populations
Thursday, March 1 - Saturday, March 3
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, San Francisco, CA

Course Overview:
Publicly insured and uninsured patients make up about half of all outpatient visits in the US, and millions more previously uninsured patients have gained access to health care through the Affordable Care Act. Becoming an expert in caring for the complicated medical and social needs of vulnerable and underserved patients is crucial to every healthcare provider. World-class experts and front-line practitioners from the Zuckerberg San Francisco General and the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations will present approaches to mitigate the challenges in caring for vulnerable populations and enhance the profound joy clinicians can experience when engaging with patients in greatest need.

Many of the UCSF Champion Provider Fellowship faculty members will be presenting at the conference. For more information and to register click here .
Contact:
 
Questions or Comments? 
Please contact Alana Pfeffinger, MPH, CHES
Project Coordinator, Champion Provider Fellowship
Phone: (415) 206 - 5141