We're Hiring | Guides for Effectively Communicating About Health & Climate Change | PHI’s Lynn Silver on Cannabis & Cardiovascular Disease

Applications Now Open: PHI Access Bridge Reproductive Justice Fellowship

Are you an attending ED physician (MD/DO) or advanced practice clinician (NP/PA) who is interested in leading your emergency department to improve reproductive healthcare in your community? Applications are now open for PHI's Access Bridge 2025-2026 Reproductive Justice Fellowship to improve access to evidence-based reproductive health services by building the capacity of America’s emergency departments to serve as reproductive health safety nets, focusing on communities with limited access. This fellowship is accompanied by a stipend contingent upon attending fellowship meetings and completing reporting requirements. Applications are due by August 22 at 11:59 PM PT. Learn more and apply →

PHI’s Dr. Lynn Silver in Heart: "It Is Time to Treat Cannabis as an Important Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease"

A new Heart editorial, co-written by PHI’s Dr. Lynn Silver and Dr. Stanton A. Glantz, explores a growing body of evidence that suggests that cannabis use may be linked to significant health harms, including cardiovascular disease. The editorial reviews a groundbreaking meta-analysis of 24 recent studies, showing significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events among cannabis users, including a 29% higher risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and a 20% higher risk of stroke. The authors emphasize that legalization alone isn’t enough and call for health-focused regulations including warning labels, potency limits and marketing restrictions.

“Clinicians need to screen people for cannabis use and educate them about its harms, the same way we do for tobacco, because in some population groups it’s being used more widely than tobacco," Dr. Silver told CNN. "Our regulatory system, which has been almost entirely focused on creating legal infrastructure and licensing legal, for-profit (cannabis) businesses, needs to focus much more strongly on health warnings that educate people about the real risks.” Read the Heart editorial and see the CNN news story as well as coverage in CBS News, The Guardian, KQED, New York Times, National Geographic and more →

New Resource: Guides for Effectively Communicating About Climate Change

Do you want to effectively communicate the health-related challenges associated with climate change? PHI’s Berkeley Media Studies Group has released a new curated list of existing message guides that offer clear, research-backed strategies to help advocates, health practitioners and policymakers craft compelling narratives that inspire action. The resource includes quick tips and examples to integrate into your work; messaging for naming the health impacts of climate change; and language that ensures climate narratives are inclusive. One strategy: Center values in your messaging, because this can help mobilize and inspire others who hold similar values. View and download the guides →

Upcoming Webinars, Events & Trainings

Unlocking the Potential of Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs): Wednesday, July 9 | 8-9am PT. Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) are innovative products created to simultaneously prevent unintended pregnancies, HIV, and/or other STIs. Join the next session of the "Let’s Talk MPTs" webinar series, hosted by PHI's CAMI Health, for a timely discussion on funding trends across MPTs, HIV/STI and contraception. The webinar will feature PHI's Bethany Young Holt from the Initiative for MPTs, who will provide an overview of the MPT product pipeline, and Cécile Ventola of Impact Global Health presenting on MPT and STI funding trends. Register →

Ask an ADA Professional: Accessible Temporary Events: Wednesday, July 9 | 11am-12pm PT. Whether it’s a music festival, farmers market or county fair, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires covered entities to ensure their temporary events are accessible to people with disabilities. This can require special considerations for the site, parking spaces, restrooms, seating, vendors and more. Join PHI's Pacific ADA Center for a live Q&A event with ADA professionals from the ADA National Network to answer audience questions about accessible temporary events. Tune in →

I-STARR Webinar: The State of the Recovery Housing Literature: Tuesday, July 15 | 11am-12pm PT. PHI's Alcohol Research Group hosts the Studying Treatment & Addiction Recovery Residences (I-STARR) webinar series, which explores how to address challenges to providing and conducting research on medication for opioid use disorder in recovery housing. Although recovery housing is one of the most well-researched types of recovery support services, there are still key gaps in the recovery housing literature. This webinar presents findings from a scoping review stimulated by questions posed by members of Community Boards involved with the Justice-Involved and Emerging Adult Populations (JEAP) Initiative. The webinar will highlight what is known about recovery housing and identify areas in which additional research is needed. Sign up →

ADA 35th Anniversary: What Are Your Rights as a Person With a Disability? Wednesday, July 16 | 12-1pm PT. Join PHI’s Pacific ADA Center in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This session will provide an overview of your rights under the ADA and how the law continues to protect people with disabilities in public life. Learn how the ADA impacts everyday experiences in employment, transportation, public services and beyond. Register →

Building California's Addiction Treatment Access Networks (Inland Empire; In-Person): July 25 | 9am-12:30pm PT | Redlands, CA. PHI's CA Bridge is building a statewide Treatment Access Network to ensure every community in California is ready and able to provide addiction treatment to every person who needs it. Connect with PHI’s CA Bridge and local substance use disorder experts from California's Inland Empire region to identify barriers and co-create solutions to transform addiction care for local communities. RSVP →

The Time Has Come for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs): Transforming STI/HIV Prevention: STI & HIV 2025 World Congress | Sunday, July 27 | 10:45am-12:15pm ET | Montreal, Canada. Join PHI’s CAMI Health/IMPT for their symposium, part of the upcoming STI & HIV 2025 World Congress conference, in Montreal, Canada. This engaging and interactive session will feature leading voices in the field, including Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi (KEMRI), Dr. Anke Hemmerling (UCSF), Dr. Ina Park (UCSF), Dr. Carolyn Deal (NIAID) and Dr. Bethany Young Holt (CAMI Health/IMPT). See more info →

Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Exam Preparation Course: September 8-12 | 8am-12pm PT Daily | $1400-1600. A CASp is a qualified individual who is certified by the California Division of the State Architect to review buildings and facilities for compliance with state and federal construction-related accessibility codes and standards. Disability experts at PHI's Beyond Consulting offer this five-day online training course, featuring a comprehensive review of the relevant knowledge, skills and abilities covered on the examination to become a CASp in California. It will also explore California laws and relevant federal disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Register by August 25. Register →

More from PHI

• New Study: ‘Food is Medicine’ Improves Health Outcomes: New research from PHI's Center for Wellness and Nutrition shows how Abbott's Healthy Food Rx “food is medicine” program in Stockton, CA has helped people living with diabetes to eat better, feel healthier and improve health outcomes. The clinical trial assessed the impact of Healthy Food Rx in a highly food insecure, low-income, community-based setting of 364 people living with diabetes over a six-month period. Participants showed a significant increase in vegetable consumption, improved A1c levels and improved physical health.  Learn more about the study →
• PHI in the News: How AI Can Support Rural Health Services: Rural health systems have unique challenges and benefits in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to better serve patients, say experts. In HealthTech, Mei Wa Kwong, director of PHI's Center for Connected Health Policy, discusses how using AI for rural health services may be helpful to both patients and practitioners by reducing diagnostic errors and streamlining billing and coding. One example: “AI can help identify patterns that a doctor may not see at first, or that they may initially think is an offhand comment," says Mei. Read the full story →
• Flipping the Table Podcast: Is Industrial Agriculture the Answer? On the latest episode of Flipping the Table, a podcast from PHI's Roots of Change, host Michael Dimock speaks with author Michael Grunwald about their sometimes-differing views on industrial agriculture, sustainability and more. Their conversation points the way to end the polarized views on these issues, and find common ground among the so-called regenerative, organic and industrial approaches. Hear the podcast →
• Addressing Domestic Violence Among AAAI Communities: In the final webinar of the "Addressing Domestic Violence Among Asian American and Asian Immigrant (AAAI) Communities" series, speakers highlight key community-based programs that support the needs of AAAI children, caregivers and families impacted by domestic violence—and explore culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches for healing, recovery and advocacy. Hosted by PHI's Lotus Project. Watch the recording →
• Transforming Gender Equity in South Africa: In May 2025, PHI's Rise Up welcomed 25 leaders to Rise Up’s latest Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator program in South Africa. Representing KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, these visionary leaders are advancing a diverse range of gender equity issues from ending period poverty and increasing women’s civic participation to addressing the gendered impacts of climate change. After completing the intensive training, these leaders are eligible for grant funding to launch the advocacy projects they developed during Rise Up’s Accelerator. Read the full story →
• Celebrating 35 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act: People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the U.S. Savannah Bradley, community outreach and programs manager for PHI’s Pacific ADA Center, joins Living Better in San Diego to celebrate 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act and shares what is still needed to improve accessibility. “There is still a lot of work to be done, especially in digital accessibility. There are many websites and social media platforms that still lack key accessibility features," explains Savannah. Listen to the interview →

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:

• Communications Specialist (Spanish): Ventura County, CA (Hybrid). The Communications Specialist for PHI's Community Data Exchange Collaborative is responsible for a variety of communication processes to help strengthen the VCCIE message within Ventura County. These processes include setting internal and external communication protocols to ensure smooth execution of VCCIE program messaging with its stakeholders. 
• Advocacy Intern: Alameda County, CA (Remote). The intern for Improving the Wellness for Asian Youth 2 (IWAY2) Project at PHI's Health Intervention Projects for Underserved Populations will work closely with the IWAY2 Health Educators and take the lead in spreading awareness about the community’s unmet needs regarding traumatic events and stress. The Advocacy Internship offers a learning opportunity that equips interns with leadership skills and makes them ambassadors for increasing mental health awareness in AAAI communities.
• Director of Development: Oakland, CA (Hybrid). The Director of Development will collaborate with PHI colleagues to co-create the conditions for new business, relationship growth and fund development for the organization and more than sixty fiscally sponsored programs. The position will identify new opportunities to strengthen and diversify program revenue by expanding philanthropic, corporate, state, and federal opportunities and contribute to new business and funding models. 

See all current opportunities →

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