Your health can be affected by the environment around you, and this includes elements of weather like temperature and air quality.

Over the past few months the western region of the U.S. has experienced extreme weather patterns that have contributed to periods of high heat, dry, drought conditions and wildfires. To help you understand the potential effects of high temperatures and air quality on physical health, we’ll address both topics with the help of Dignity Health Medical Group physicians.

On March 30th every year, we celebrate National Doctors’ Day to honor the physicians that have dedicated their lives to improving the health of our communities. But this year in particular we want to honor the incredible sacrifices our dedicated doctors have made during the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked two of our doctors to share their stories and experiences in medicine: Tarandeep Kaur, MD, an endocrinologist with Dignity Health Medical Group — Stockton and Swapna Kudtarkar, MD, a pediatrician with Dignity Health Medical Group — Inland Empire.

The Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) has recognized three Dignity Health Medical Groups along with Dignity Health Medical Network in Santa Cruz (the largest network of independent physicians in Santa Cruz County) for providing high-quality care to Medicare Advantage patients in California. The IHA is a statewide nonprofit group committed to high-value care that improves quality and affordability for patients across the nation.

Dignity Health Medical Foundation announced that Joe Kim has been promoted to VP of Operations, Central and Southern California. Joe was previously Executive Director of Dignity Health Medical Network, Dignity Health Medical Foundation’s HMO physician network and Independent Provider Association. 

Dignity Health Medical Group – Inland Empire has announced the appointment of Jose Arciniega, DO, as Medical Director. In this role, Dr. Arciniega will be responsible for development of medical policy that continues to prioritize patient-centered care, quality assurance, clinical practice guidelines, as well as physician recruitment and review.