In Memoriam: Joseph Hafey, Founder of the Public Health Institute | New Jobs, Resources, Events & More

In Memoriam: Joseph Hafey, Founder of the Public Health Institute

Joseph Hafey, the founder and architect of the Public Health Institute, passed on July 4, 2023. Joe was a health planner, a connection builder and a leader in the field of public health.?

He was a true visionary and built leadership and other programs in recognition for the need for more strong leadership in public health.?In 1997, Joe?led the restructuring of the California Public Health Foundation and the establishment of the Public Health Institute. Under Joe’s direction as President and CEO, PHI grew into an organization with over $80 million in annual revenue, 600 employees, and 20 centers with over 250 distinct projects by the time he left in 2008, and is still growing today. Communities around the world have benefited from the work he has done to make that vision a reality.?We send our condolences to his family, community and loved ones.

See our full statement?and check back for memorial services and other details on phi.org?→

Tips to?Stay Cool During Heat Waves

From Africa to Asia and North America,?communities around the world are currently experiencing?dangerous heat waves—with states across the U.S. issuing heat advisories, and temperatures reaching over 100 degrees in parts of California and the Southwest. In?KQED, PHI's Dr. Linda Rudolph and Dr. Gina Solomon discuss the health and equity impacts of extreme heat on communities?and share guidance on?how to stay safe. For example, check in on your neighbors; take cool baths or showers;?and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.?“People lose huge amounts of fluid from their body when it’s hot. So the key message is drink, drink, drink—nonalcoholic, please,” said Dr. Solomon. See more tips?→

How California?Cancer Registry Saves Lives & Advances Health Equity

Data from California’s Cancer Registry supports?life-saving research around the globe—helping to inform cancer incidence and mortality rates in neighborhoods and communities; advancing?the understanding of disparities for effective cancer treatment options; improving cancer screening guidelines; and more.

• The largest research study?(RESPOND Study)?to ever examine disparities in prostate cancer among African American men?is underway and is taking a closer look at factors such as structural racism and social drivers of health.
• Data from the California Cancer Registry supported breast cancer research, and led to the critical finding that LGBTQ+ patients have higher mortality rates after a diagnosis of breast cancer.?The research pinpointed disparities in access to care.
• The large and diverse populations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in California has enabled researchers to conduct detailed studies of these populations, finding highly heterogeneous cancer patterns?across these ethnic groups, and uncovering disparities in particular groups which are key in determining life-saving cancer treatment options.

See more ways the Registry is supporting cancer research?→

Upcoming Events & Trainings

Cutting through the Chaos: Reframing Public Health

Tuesday, July 11 | 10:30am–12pm PT

In this Dialogue4Health Web Forum, Julie Sweetland from FrameWorks Institute will dive into framing strategies that advocates can use to effectively communicate about public health, with examples of how to talk about health equity in conservative contexts, how to rebuild vaccine confidence and other timely topics. Register →

Substance Use Recovery Environments & Supports

Tuesday, July 11 | 11am–12pm PT

PHI's Alcohol Research Group will review clinical and social models of recovery and discuss how recovery housing can support social model principles through facilitating culturally competent resident interaction and participation in residence operations. It will also cover other recovery supports provided in recovery housing such as recovery planning, employment/skills development and support groups. This session is part of the Infrastructure for Studying Treatment & Addiction Recovery Residences (I-STARR) webinar training series. RSVP →

988 Crisis Lifeline: What to Know About the National Hotline

Wednesday, July 12 | 11:30am-12:30pm PT

Last year, the national 988 Crisis Lifeline was introduced. Instead of calling 911, people are now able to dial 988 to connect directly to a crisis counselor. This webinar from PHI’s National Overdose Prevention Network will focus on the rollout of 988, how to align it with your work in substance use and how to educate your community as an outreach strategy for overdose prevention. Join →

Experimental & Quasi-Experimental Recovery Housing Research Designs

Tuesday, July 18 | 11am–12pm PT

Explore basic principles of experimental and quasi-experimental designs, and the pros and cons of each within the context of research on recovery housing. Hosted by PHI's Alcohol Research Group as part of the Infrastructure for Studying Treatment & Addiction Recovery Residences (I-STARR) project. Register now →

How to Create an ADA Coordinator Network in Your State or Region

Tuesday, July 18 | 11am–12:30pm PT

Join the California Network of ADA Coordinators’ Steering Committee to learn about the benefits of a peer-driven ADA coordinator network and how to establish one in your area. Steering Committee members will discuss how they provide leadership and direction for the Network, tips for maintaining a successful network, and the support provided by PHI's Pacific ADA Center. Tune in →

Pacific Region Americans with Disabilities Act Update Conference 2023

August 22–23 | Online & in person in Phoenix, AZ | Cost:?$380

Register for this year's Pacific Region ADA Update Conference, hosted by PHI’s Pacific ADA Center and partners. Topics include: employment assistive technology; communication; program access; facility accessibility; housing; transportation; park and playground accessibility; self evaluations and ADA transition plans; and more. RSVP →

More from PHI

• CA Budget Funds Critical Nutrition Program: PHI?and its program Roots of Change (ROC) applaud the California Legislature and Governor Newsom for including $35 million in California’s 2023 State Budget to protect ongoing operations of the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP). Beginning in 2014, ROC led a campaign to create CNIP with California Assemblymember Phil Ting. CNIP encourages the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables among shoppers participating in nutrition benefit programs such as SNAP?(known in California as CalFresh).? Read the full statement?→
• Partnering with Schools & CBOs to?Advance Health Equity: PHI's California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity currently works with over 30?schools, universities and civic groups to advance?health equity across the state. "By partnering together across a host of different public health issues, the Alliance can more effectively be able to help address the many different pressing health issues that we face today and make us more prepared for the future health challenges we may have tomorrow," said PHI's Dr. Michael Rodriguez. Read?more in?The?Daily Californian?→
• Telehealth & Remote Patient Monitoring: In the last few years, there has been an increase in the usage of remote patient monitoring (RPM)—a form of telehealth that allows providers to monitor and manage their patients' conditions?outside of conventional clinical settings.?"I still think RPM is underutilized," said Mei Wa Kwong with PHI's Center for Connected Health Policy in?Health Payer Specialist - Financial Times. "During the pandemic, it wasn’t pushed forward as much as live video that had immediacy—then, more focus was being placed on meeting immediate patient needs." Read the full story?→
• Challenges, Strategies & Systems of Care to Reverse the Youth Fentanyl Crisis: In the Bay Area and across the country, many communities?are struggling to address?the?growing fentanyl crisis—especially among youth. In the?San Francisco Standard,?experts from PHI’s CA Bridge discuss challenges, strategies and systems of care to?reverse this trend. "We had to start talking about [the overdose crisis]. It was so in our faces, and we were that frontline," said Dr.?Reb Close, emergency physician and regional director with PHI's CA Bridge. Read the article?→
• Study: Childhood Adversity Associated with Adolescent Cannabis Use: Exposure to adverse conditions early in life can affect a young child’s neural, cognitive?and emotional development. A new study from PHI’s Alcohol Research Group explored the connections between?early childhood adversity (ECA) before the age of five and alcohol and cannabis use in adolescence. By analyzing alcohol and cannabis separately, researchers uncovered some similarities and differences in pathways—and found that ECA was more consequential for adolescent cannabis use than alcohol. See the press release??→
• How Telehealth Connects Cancer Patients with Culturally Resonant Care: Recent research shows that patients with cancer are more likely than non-cancer patients to delay or stop treatment due to their clinician being a different race, religion, gender?or other identity. To help address this issue, PHI’s Center for Connected Health Policy?launched a telehealth project to connect?over 40?California healthcare clinics with Latinx and/or?Spanish fluent-speaking physicians—helping to increase access to care and bridging new?connection between patients and clinicians. Read the article?→

We're Hiring

PHI is dedicated to promoting health, well-being and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. Join us:

• President & CEO:?San Francisco Bay Area/Washington, DC. The President & CEO will promote PHI’s mission, vision and values and develop a strategy for continued growth as a convener for public health that fosters a coherent, sustainable culture for its more than 950 employees across 45 states, with an annual budget of more than $300 million.?
• Administrative & Office Coordinator:?Oakland, CA (Hybrid). PHI's Rise Up is seeking an Administrative Operations Coordinator to support office management for a global organization with a remote team currently working across 12 countries. In addition to supporting day-to-day account administration and office billing, the coordinator develops and implements solutions in support of virtual operations.
• Project Assistant:?Remote, CA. PHI's California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity is seeking two motivated work-study students of UC Berkeley to provide research and administrative support.
• Senior Financial?Analyst for Indirect Cost:?USA (Remote). This position provides in-depth cost analysis and supports?Facilities & Administrative (F&A), also known as Indirect Cost, rate proposal preparation, and related activities.
• IT Operations Technical Lead:?Oakland, CA. The IT Operations Technical Lead focuses on enhancement, optimization, security, high availability, and maintenance of enterprise services and systems in a Virtualized/Cloud/Physical IT hybrid environment.

See all open positions?→

Support Our Work

With your help, we can continue to invest in communities to build a stronger, more resilient public health system.?Donate today →

This article is a version of our recent PHI newsletter. To receive PHI updates directly in your inbox,?sign up here. You can also opt in to receive our additional mailings, including our Job Alerts, Dialogue4Health Web Forum announcements and more.