PAC & Forth is a podcast about the forces shaping health care in California and the people working to change it.
Produced by the Physician Association of California and hosted by PAC CEO, Matthew Robinson, PAC & Forth brings together physicians, policy insiders, advocates, and industry leaders for candid conversations about independent medicine, health care policy, and the real-world impact of decisions made in Sacramento.
A practical, grounded discussion from people on the front lines, in exam rooms, boardrooms, and the Capitol.
Whether you’re a physician, policymaker, health care professional, or someone who simply cares about the future of patient-centered care, PAC & Forth offers insight, perspective, and a seat at the table.
PAC & Forth - Ep. 15 - Featuring Dr. Michael Leathers - "What does an independent physician bring to the sidelines?"
What does an independent physician bring to the sidelines? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Michael Leathers, a second-generation orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician who runs his own practice in Midtown Sacramento. Trained at USC, UCLA, and UCSF, Dr. Leathers also volunteers as team physician for Christian Brothers High School and Sacramento State, bringing independent care from the clinic to the field. Dr. Leathers shares: Why owning his own practice give...
4 Aug 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 14 - Featuring Dan Cavanaugh - "Will your malpractice carrier stand by you when it matters?"
Will your malpractice carrier stand by you when it matters? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dan Cavanaugh, Senior Vice President of Business Development at the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP). With more than 35 years in the industry, Dan knows California's malpractice landscape better than almost anyone. Dan shares: What changed under AB 35, including the roughly 80% increase in exposure per case.The questions every physician should ask before choosing a carrier,...
21 Jul 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 13 - Featuring Sam Chung - "What good is innovation if patients can't get it?"
What good is innovation if patients can't get it? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Sam Chung, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs at California Life Sciences, which represents 1,300 organizations across the state's biopharma, biotech, medical device, and research community. Sam unpacks: How prior authorization is driving real harm, with one in three patients facing adverse outcomes.Why vertical integration of PBMs, insurers, and pharmacies is...
7 Jul 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 12 - Featuring John Shirikian & Steffanie Watkins - "What does a new health care mandate really cost?"
What does a new health care mandate really cost? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with John Shirikian, President and CEO of the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies (ACLHIC), and Steffanie Watkins, the association's Senior Vice President. ACLHIC represents 50 member companies, including the big six health insurers. This episode dives into: Why every new benefit mandate has a downstream premium cost that adds up fast.The difference between coverage and c...
23 Jun 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 11 - Featuring Assemblymembers Greg Wallis & Heath Flora - "Why is California debating health care while patients can't see a doctor?"
Why is California debating health care while patients can't see a doctor? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Assemblymember Greg Wallis (Coachella Valley) and Assemblymember Heath Flora, the Assembly Republican Leader from the northern San Joaquin Valley. Both bring a frontline view of inland California, where access to healthcare is shrinking and physicians are leaving. This conversation pulls back the curtain on: The access-to-care crisis where the nearest specialist can b...
9 Jun 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep.10 - Featuring Vincent Catalano - "Why does your premium keep climbing even in a clean year?"
Why does your premium keep climbing even in a clean year? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Vincent Catalano, Founder and CEO of Clear Healthcare Solutions. Vincent brings decades of experience in employee benefits and insurance brokerage and now helps organizations manage cost and strategy across health care. We unpack: How brokers actually get paid, and why flat percentage commissions give them a raise when premiums rise.Why small practices under 20 employees have almost ...
26 May 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep.9 - Featuring Dr. Todd Otten - "What does it take for a physician to finally say enough?"
What does it take for a physician to finally say enough? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Todd Otten, board-certified family physician, former U.S. Navy flight surgeon, co-author of Ripple of Change, and executive producer of the documentary Suck It Up, Buttercup. After two decades in practice and his own experience with burnout, Dr. Otten is one of the most candid voices on what is breaking the people who deliver care. Dr. Otten shares: The moment he walked away from ...
12 May 2026
PAC & Forth – Ep. 8 – Featuring Tyler Tracewski – "What if staying independent in primary care didn't have to mean doing it alone?"
What if staying independent didn't have to mean going it alone? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Tyler Tracewski, President of Astrana Care Partners, to unpack PAC's new collaboration with Astrana and what it means for independent primary care physicians navigating Medicare's shift to value-based care. This episode dives into: What an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is, how shared savings work in traditional Medicare, and why Astrana's model carries no downside risk ...
28 Apr 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 7 - Featuring Dr. Hailey MacNear - "What happens when TikTok becomes your second opinion?"
What happens when TikTok becomes your second opinion? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Hailey MacNear, OB-GYN and partner at Sacramento Women's Health, for an honest conversation about health misinformation, patient trust, and the growing challenge of navigating medicine in the age of social media, from menopause advice on Instagram to "doctor versus Google" debates in the exam room. This episode dives into: Why patient research can be helpful and when it becomes ...
14 Apr 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 6 - Featuring John Latimer - Who actually shapes health care policy in California?
In this episode of PAC & Forth, we go inside the Capitol with John Latimer, founder and managing partner of Capital Advocacy — one of Sacramento’s most influential lobbying firms — for a no-nonsense look at how decisions really get made. This conversation pulls back the curtain on: Why health care policy is dominated by big institutions — and how smaller voices can still break throughThe real meaning of “affordability” in Sacramento (and why it’s more complicated than it sounds)How Califo...
31 Mar 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 5 - Featuring Dr. Lamia Gabal - What does it really take to build and keep an independent medical practice in today’s healthcare system?
In this episode of PAC & Forth, we’re joined by Dr. Lamia Gabal, board-certified urologist, founder of Prestige Medical Group, and PAC board member, for one of our most honest and human conversations yet. Dr. Gabal shares: Her family’s immigrant journey and how it shaped her drive as a physician and entrepreneurWhy she chose private practice and why so many doctors no longer canThe hidden administrative and financial pressures squeezing independent physiciansHow insurance practices like ...
17 Mar 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 4 - Featuring Assemblymember Damon Connolly - What good is health coverage if patients still can’t get in to see a doctor?
In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Assemblymember Damon Connolly, author of AB 2457, PAC-sponsored legislation that builds on last year’s credentialing reform by extending it to Medi-Cal managed care plans. This conversation gets into: Why AB 2457 is the logical next step after AB 1041How credentialing delays create real barriers to care in rural and underserved communitiesWhy physician shortages and reimbursement challenges hit Medi-Cal patients especially hardHow Sacramen...
3 Mar 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 3 - Featuring Dr. Join Luh & Flo Di Benedetto - How Does PAC's 2025 Legislation Unburden Doctors and Get Them Back to Their Patients?
In this episode of PAC & Forth, we break down AB 1041, PAC’s first sponsored legislation, and the real-world problem it was designed to solve: broken, slow, and inconsistent provider credentialing that delays patient access to care. Joining us are Dr. Join Luh, radiation oncologist in Eureka, and Flo Di Benedetto, PAC’s General Counsel and former Chief Legal Officer at Sutter Health. Together, they unpack how credentialing delays were impacting independent physicians and why reform was lo...
17 Feb 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 2 - Featuring Andrew Acosta and Rob Stutzman "Who's really positioned to lead California next and what does that mean for affordability, health care, and independent medicine?"
In this episode of PAC & Forth, we’re joined by two veterans of California politics — Andrew Acosta and Rob Stutzman — who have shaped some of the state’s biggest campaigns, from the historic 2003 recall to statewide ballot fights and major policy battles. This conversation pulls back the curtain on: Why the 2026 governor’s race has no clear frontrunner and why that mattersHow California’s open primary could produce unexpected outcomesThe real political power of affordability, homelessne...
2 Feb 2026
PAC & Forth - Ep. 1 - Dr Omer Deen: "What happens when doctors lose the freedom to treat patients?"
What happens when doctors lose the freedom to treat patients the way they believe is right? In our very first episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Omer Deen, nationally recognized clinical nutrition expert, private practice physician, and Chair of the Physician Association of California, for a candid conversation about healthcare in California. We unpack: Why private practice physicians are vanishing and what’s driving them outHow declining reimbursements and growing bureaucracy a...
2 Feb 2026
Matthew Robinson, CEO, PAC: "Introduction"
PAC & Forth is a podcast about the forces shaping health care in California and the people working to change it. Produced by the Physician Association of California and hosted by PAC CEO, Matthew Robinson, PAC & Forth brings together physicians, policy insiders, advocates, and industry leaders for candid conversations about independent medicine, health care policy, and the real-world impact of decisions made in Sacramento. A practical, grounded discussion from people on the front line...
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