May 15, 2026
The first quarter of 2026 marked an important period of alignment and momentum for the More Doctors for California (MD4CA) campaign. With Year 1 focused on establishing the campaign's foundation, the first few months of 2026 have centered on strengthening coordination, deepening partner engagement, and sharpening the campaign's focus for the year ahead.
Sharpening Our Focus for Year 2
In January, the MD4CA Steering Committee convened for the Year 2 Retreat to reflect on progress and align on how we continue advancing this work in the year ahead. Building on the foundation established in Year 1, the campaign is moving forward with a shared approach that strengthens coordination across initiatives while remaining responsive to California's evolving healthcare, political, and social landscape.
As part of that alignment, MD4CA has shifted from labeling initiatives as "priority" and "non-priority." Instead, the campaign is organizing its work around two designations:
Focus Initiatives: where the campaign is concentrating time and coordination in 2026.
Monitoring Initiatives: where partners remain engaged and ready to act as opportunities develop.
This shift reflects an important distinction: all 11 initiatives remain critical to addressing the Latino physician shortage, while recognizing that capacity, timing, and opportunity require us to strategically focus our efforts in specific areas at this moment.
MD4CA's 2026 Focus Initiatives
For 2026, the campaign is advancing three focus initiatives:
Together, these focus areas will guide deeper coordination across policy, communications, development, and partner engagement throughout the year, while other initiatives remain active through ongoing monitoring and support.
Campaign Updates
Engaging Physician Leaders Through NHHF
This spring, MD4CA joined the National Hispanic Health Foundation and Dr. Elena Rios to present to the 2026 California Leadership Fellowship cohort — a group of practicing physicians with firsthand experience navigating underrepresentation in medicine. The session provided an opportunity to share the campaign's statewide strategy while also creating space to listen. Through direct conversations and on-site interviews with fellows, MD4CA continued building a growing library of voices that will help shape and inform the campaign's ongoing narrative work.
Bringing CMSP to the Capitol
On March 11, MD4CA co-hosted the CMSP Capitol Briefing alongside students, partners, and legislative leaders including Senator Hurtado, Senator Reyes, Senator Rubio, Assemblymember Alvarez, Assemblymember Arambula, Assemblymember Carrillo, and Assemblymember Pacheco. The briefing connected policymakers directly with the CMSP model and student voices, highlighting both the promise of physician pathways and the urgency of addressing California's physician shortage.
Strengthening Policy Coordination
The MD4CA Policy Committee continues to strengthen alignment across partners while connecting this work to ongoing legislative priorities. Recent conversations included insights from Dr. Glenda Flores on Latino physicians in medicine, helping ground coalition efforts in both research and lived experience as partners prepare for continued engagement with policymakers.
Expanding Communications Efforts
As part of strengthening how the campaign shares and amplifies its work, MD4CA is preparing to launch a Communications Committee in the coming months. The committee will help support narrative change efforts, strengthen storytelling, and provide opportunities for partners to amplify campaign priorities across California.
Looking Ahead
The progress made during the first quarter of 2026 reflects the continued partnership and leadership of organizations, advocates, educators, healthcare leaders, and community members working toward a shared vision. As MD4CA moves through Year 2, the campaign will continue advancing its focus initiatives, supporting coalition partners, and building momentum toward a stronger physician pathway for California.