2023 Annual Conference Showcases Innovation + Impact in Community Health

The California Primary Care Association (CPCA) welcomed 755 participants to its 2023 Annual Conference on October 12-13 at The Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles, CA. This year's conference theme "Innovation + Impact: Engaging Communities, Empowering Change” focused on cutting-edge, collaborative approaches to advancing and transforming community health.

Educational Sessions Offer Insight and Inspiration

The conference began on a high note with a moving performance from the Urban Voices Project Choir, which is composed of residents of Skid Row who, through the healing power of music, shared their lived experiences. CPCA’s President and CEO Francisco J. Silva then extended a heartfelt welcome to attendees, followed by opening remarks by the National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) President and CEO, Dr. Kyu Rhee. Together, they shared a message of unity and collaboration.

The event featured inspiring keynote addresses from Dr. Bob Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment, and María Teresa Kumar, CEO of Voto Latino. Drawing upon the urgency of the upcoming 2024 election, Dr. Ross urged attendees to become active civic participants, explaining that meaningful engagement in the democratic process is essential for the creation and implementation of health care policies that truly serve the needs of diverse communities across California. His moving words served as a call to action for health care leaders to not only be advocates for health, but also ambassadors for democracy.

María Teresa Kumar delivered an engaging presentation on innovative approaches to increase voter turnout in underrepresented groups. She shared her visionary work with Voto Latino to engage young Latinos and discussed ways community health centers (CHCs) can play an integral role in civic participation. Both Dr. Ross and María Teresa Kumar offered thought-provoking ideas that energized and mobilized attendees to drive change through community-focused efforts.

The closing general session, Addressing Community Health through Civic Engagement and Power Building: Community Health Center Integrated Civic Engagement Model, further highlighted strategies for engaging and empowering communities, as AltaMed Health Services highlighted their highly successful My Vote. My Health.TM program. This insightful presentation perfectly set the stage for CPCA’s work to expand AltaMed’s model across the state through our newly launched Civic Engagement Program!

Over two action-packed days, conference participants chose from nearly two dozen breakout sessions on timely topics including emerging models of care, strategies for integrating services, trends in Medi-Cal managed care, and more. Knowledgeable panelists from organizations including Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, Health Net, UCSF, NACHC, and the California Department of Health Care Services shared their expertise.

Many sessions highlighted innovative programs at our member health centers, including Axis Community Health’s mental health urgent care model and integrated dental and behavioral health from Asian Health Services. OLE Health and CommuniCare Health Centers shared their experiences evaluating and completing a merger between the two organizations. These real-world examples demonstrated the creative ways California's community health centers expand access and improve care while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

Building Community

In addition to the robust educational agenda, attendees benefited from significant networking opportunities. The Innovation Lab trade show enabled valuable interactions with over 80 exhibitors, while the networking reception on the rooftop of The Westin Bonaventure allowed participants to connect with their peers, engage with CPCA’s sponsors, and most importantly, have a whole lot of fun...particularly on the dance floor!

Attendees voted on their favorite exhibitors in the conference app and the winners were crowned at the reception. Congratulations to the following organizations!

Best In Expo
Gojji

Best Swag
First Citizens Bank

Best Integration of the Theme
Chiropractic Integrative Partners

Clinic Legacy Awardees:

CPCA’s 2023 Annual Conference was a huge success!  Attendees left the event with actionable strategies to address local needs and advance health equity within their communities and a renewed sense of community and purpose. California’s CHCs are making bold moves to innovate health care and impact communities statewide, and CPCA’s Annual Conference will continue to provide focused learning to propel this critical work forward.

We can’t wait to see everyone at next year’s Annual Conference as we celebrate CPCA’s 30th Anniversary in Sacramento! View the full list of 2024 conferences here.