Check out the Winter 2006 edition of the CMA Foundation News! Click here to view and download your copy.

New Pension Protection Act of 2006

Act before December 31, 2007 to take full advantage.
If you are age 70 ½ or older, new legislation now allows you to make cash gifts of up to $100,000 per year to the CMA Foundation or other qualified charitable organization using funds transferred from your traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account—without incurring income tax on the withdrawal. Prior to the new Pension Protection Act of 2006, people who wanted to make a charitable gift during their lifetime from their retirement assets were faced with an income tax penalty. However, this provision is effective for tax years 2006 and 2007 only, so you must act by December 31, 2007 to take full advantage of this special charitable incentive.

• You may transfer up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA to charitable organizations
• The charitable distribution counts towards the Minimum Required Distribution (MRD) for a donor’s IRA accounts
• The transfer generates neither federal taxable income nor federal tax deduction, so even those who do not itemize their tax returns receive the benefit*
• Qualified distributions must be made by December 31, 2007

IRA gifts can be accomplished simply and without tax complications. Consider making a gift to the CMA Foundation now—and enjoy seeing the benefits of your generosity in your lifetime.

Please contact Cherie Davis, CMA Foundation Director of Development at (916) 551-2556 or cdavis@cmanet.org for more information. As always, we encourage you to seek professional counsel when making important financial decisions.

* State income tax rules may vary.

Douglas Bonetti Elected as Chair of CMA Foundation Corporate Advisory Committee

Douglas Bonetti of Procter & Gamble was elected as Chair of the CMA Foundation Corporate Advisory Committee (CAC) at their October 30, 2006 meeting. Outgoing CAC Chair Jeffrey Krebs, MD, FACP of Kaiser Permanente Department of Internal Medicine expressed great confidence in Mr. Bonetti’s leadership through the CAC’s ongoing growth and development.

Dr. Frank E. Staggers, CMA Foundation Board of Directors Chair, presented Dr. Krebs with a plaque to recognize and thank him for his outstanding leadership through the CAC’s early formation though its current well-established, thriving state. Dr. Krebs will continue his membership on the Foundation’s CAC.

Please contact Carol E. Lee, Esq., CMA Foundation President and CEO at (916) 551-2562 for further information about the CMA Foundation Corporate Advisory Committee.

IOM Recognizes Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative in 2007 Report

The CMA Foundation’s Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative was highlighted as a “promising practice” in the Institute of Medicine’s 2007 report, “Progress in Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up?”

The report focused on the need to recognize and evaluate the various obesity prevention efforts conducted by federal, state and local government, industry, media, communities, schools and families. The Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative was recognized as one of the community-based approaches that “build on the reality that communities have numerous resources and assets that, if mobilized strategically, can directly impact the health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

The goal of the Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative is to train physicians to become educators and advocates for healthy eating and physical activity in their local schools and communities. By the end of 2006, eight training sessions will have been held across the state and nearly 250 physicians will be trained. Through trainings and periodic follow-up, Physician Champions are given the tools, resources and support needed to carryout successful obesity prevention campaigns in their communities.

To read the full report, visit http://www.rwjf.org/research/researchdetail.jsp?id=3029&ia=138

Check out the Summer 2006 edition of the CMA Foundation News! Click here to view and download your copy.

The CMA Foundation’s Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative offers free workshops on obesity prevention throughout the state this fall. Participants learn how to affect policy, communicate key obesity prevention messages and get involved in their communities’ efforts to combat the obesity epidemic. Participants can claim up to 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Click here, or contact Christine Maulhardt at (916) 551-2874 or by email at cmaulhardt@cmanet.org for further information.

October 29, 2006 CMA Foundation Annual Dinner, Dance, Awards, & Auction. You are the key to our success! The CMA Foundation needs your help to make our Annual Dinner and Silent Auction an unprecedented success. Please contact Cherie Davis at (916) 551-2556 or cdavis@cmanet.org for information on how you can help, or to make an auction donation. Event proceeds support CMA Foundation activities to link physicians with California communities to improve public health.

This year the CMA Foundation is offering Annual Dinner attendees the opportunity to purchase ads in the Annual Dinner program. It is the ideal place to celebrate the inauguration of new CMA President, Anmol Mahal, MD, honor the Foundation’s years of service in community health or congratulate the CMA on it’s 150th Anniversary. Purchasers may provide photos and text, use the templates available or work with the CMA Foundation to design your Ad. Proceeds from the ads will benefit the CMA Foundation and its projects. For information about purchasing an ad in the Annual Dinner program, click here for the order form or contact Donna Astrinidis at (916) 551-2054 or dastrinidis@cmanet.org.

Life income planned gifts can help you reach your retirement goals while supporting the CMA Foundation’s Legacy of Caring. Whether you want to benefit from an increased income stream or eliminate taxes, there is a CMA Foundation gift vehicle for every goal.

A planned gift to the CMA Foundation can provide the donor with life income and tax benefits, while the actual gift of the donated asset can be deferred for a period of time—often for the lifetime of the donor. Here are two CMA Foundation life income planned gifts that can help you reach your retirement goals:

• Charitable Gift Annuity – provides a generous current income tax deduction, fixed payments that start when you want and partially tax-free income
• Charitable Remainder Trust – provides either a fixed or variable income; gifted assets create a current income tax deduction for the donor, and when sold, are not subject to the capital gains tax

Click here for more information on Planned Giving that pays you and supports the CMA Foundation’s Legacy of Caring.

Click here to explore different giving approaches using the CMA Foundation Planned Giving Calculator.

To plan for your comfortable retirement, meet with your financial advisor and contact CMA Foundation Director of Development Cherie Davis, by e-mail at cdavis@cmanet.org, or by telephone at (916) 551-2556.

The information on this site is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney, tax professional or investment professional.

The CMA Foundation is pleased to announce The 2006 CMA Foundation Annual Dinner Dance and the CMA President’s Reception to be held on Sunday, October 29, 2006 at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency.

The dinner has been held since 1996 in conjunction with the CMA House of Delegates. The evening brings the opportunity for CMA Leadership, Medical and County Society Executives, and friends of the Foundation to enjoy each other’s company and to honor an individual or organization who has given back to the community (click here for more information on the Robert D. Sparks, MD Leadership Achievement Award). “The Essence”, the band at last year’s Annual Dinner will be back by popular demand! We also have a fantastic silent auction planned for your enjoyment.

This year, attendees will have the opportunity to place ads in the Annual Dinner Program to honor Anmol S. Mahal, MD, the CMA Foundation, The Robert D. Sparks, MD Leadership Award winner or anyone who has influenced their career in medicine. For details, contact Donna Astrinidis, CMA Foundation Office Manager, at dastrinidis@cmanet.org, (916) 551 – 2054 or click below for ordering information.

Click here for Annual Dinner Program Ad information

We look forward to seeing you there!

The California Medical Association Foundation is pleased to announce the date for the 4th Annual Golf Classic. This afternoon of fun and friendly competition takes place on May 6, 2006 at the Golf Resort at Indian Wells. The names of the winning foursome will be engraved on the Golf Classic trophy, on permanent display in the CMA Foundation offices. There will be a shotgun start and scramble format followed by an awards ceremony. The Classic benefits all of the Foundation’s projects.

For more information, click here for the registration form, or contact Donna Astrinidis at (916) 551-2054 or dastrinidis@cmanet.org. For more information about our projects, visit our projects page www.calmedfoundation/project

While it is imperative to educate consumers on how to appropriately use antibiotics, it is of equal importance for medical professionals to have the tools to help in appropriate prescribing. To aid in helping physicians and other healthcare providers more appropriately prescribe antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections, the AWARE Project has once again developed the adult and pediatric compendia this year.

The 2005/06 Acute Respiratory Tract Infection Guideline Summaries for adults and pediatrics are now complete and in the process of being distributed to physicians throughout California. National versions of the compendia will also be created and will be distributed to all members of the American Medical Association.

The compendia summarize the guidelines and recommendations from leading medical experts and professional organizations in the United States for Sinusitis, Pharyngitis, Bronchitis, Influenza, Otitis Media and Nonspecific URI. They enable physicians and other healthcare providers to more appropriately prescribe antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections. These guidelines are broken down into the diagnosis, treatment and prescribing recommendations for each acute respiratory tract infection mentioned.

Patient education materials have also been created to compliment the compendia. These materials include information on ear infections, runny nose and sinus infections, sore throat, and bronchitis and other cough illnesses. Additional education resources include Colds and Flu, Antibiotic Do’s and Don’ts, Why are Children More Vulnerable to Infectious Diseases, and How to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Illnesses. All of the materials are offered in both English and Spanish and can easily be downloaded for your use.

For more information, contact Becky Larson, 916.551.2550 or blarson@cmanet.org or visit the AWARE website at www.aware.md.

One of AWARE’s most recent accomplishments is the involvement of medical and pharmacy students from throughout California. Within the last several months, AWARE has been implemented at USC, UC Davis, UC San Diego, Loma Linda University, Touro University, UCLA and UC San Francisco. As these students continue to see the impact antibiotic resistance has had on public health, an ever-increasing number of them have found a true interest in being part of preventing this problem. In an attempt to inform the general public about antibiotic resistance and how to appropriately use antibiotics, these medical and pharmacy students attended training sessions hosted by AWARE that teach them to go out into their communities and present information on these issues.

As we continue working with these students to increase their involvement, some of our objectives include:

• All medical schools will participate in the AWARE Project.
• Broaden the understanding of medical students about the link between medical practice and community health.
• Each medical school will present at least 10 programs in their local communities and surrounding areas.
• Distribute AWARE health education materials to the student run clinics to inform patients about appropriate antibiotic use.
• Strengthen the involvement and support of the students to recruit more medical and pharmacy student participants.
• Build a support system among the students involved and the other members of the AWARE Speaker’s Bureau.

• December 2006 - New Pension Protection Act of 2006
• November 2006 - Douglas Bonetti Elected as Chair of CMA Foundation Corporate Advisory Committee
• November 2006 - IOM Recognizes Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative in 2007 Report
• August 2006 - The CMA Foundation’s Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative
• August 2006 - CMA Foundation Annual Dinner, Dance, Awards, & Auction.
• July 2006 - CMA Foundation Annual Dinner Program Ads
• July 2006 - Planning to Retire? The CMA Foundation Can Help!
• April 2006 - CMA Foundation Annual Dinner
• February 2006 - Get your name on the CMA Foundation Golf Classic trophy!
• January 2006 - AWARE’s 2005/06 Compendia Help Medical Professionals More Appropriately Prescribe Antibiotics
• January 2006 - The AWARE Project Helps Students Spread the Message of Appropriate Antibiotic Use

• December 2005 - Ethnic Physician Leadership Award
• December 2005 - Obesity Prevention Convening
• September 2005 - AWARE CME Up and Running
• August 2005 - Ethnic Physician Leadership Award
• May 2005 - Making a Difference in Our Communities One Physician at a Time
• February 2005 - CMA and CMA Foundation Annual Dinner

• August 2004 - CMA Foundation announces resident/Fellow and Young Physician Grant Program
• May 2004 - Building a Strong Community from the Inside Out