• Florida: Last week, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo released a memo allowing parents to send their unvaccinated children to school amid an ongoing measles outbreak at Manatee Bay Elementary School. "Due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, [the Department of Health] is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance," Ladapo wrote. The memo contradicts CDC guidance, which recommends unvaccinated students stay home from school for three weeks after being exposed to measles. Several health experts have pushed back against Ladapo's decision and expressed concerns about how it will affect the current outbreak. "I don't know why the health department wouldn't follow the CDC recommendations," said Thresia Gambon, president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician who practices in Miami and Broward County. "Measles is so contagious. It is very worrisome." So far, eight cases of measles have been confirmed in Florida. Nationwide, CDC has reported at least 35 cases in 15 states so far this year, with most being related to international travel. (Maxmen, KFF Health News, 2/23; Edwards, NBC News, 2/22; Branswell, STAT, 2/22)
• New York: Albert Einstein College of Medicine on Monday received a $1 billion donation — one of the largest ever given to an educational institution — that will help cover tuition for all students. The donation was made by Ruth Gottesman, a former professor at Einstein and chair of the school's broad of trustees. According to Gottesman, the donation was possible due to her late husband, David Gottesman, who was on the board of Berkshire Hathaway. "Each year, well over 100 students enter Albert Einstein College of Medicine in their quest for degrees in medicine and science," Gottesman said. "They leave as superbly trained scientists and compassionate and knowledgeable physicians, with the expertise to find new ways to prevent diseases and provide the finest healthcare. […] l feel blessed to be given the great privilege of making this gift to such a worthy cause." Einstein is the second tuition-free medical school in New York, with the first being New York University School of Medicine. (Associated Press, 2/26; Goldstein, New York Times, 2/27)
• Pennsylvania: WellSpan Health on Monday announced plans to acquire Evangelical Community Hospital. The combined health system will include eight hospitals and serve 12 counties in Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. "We recognize the shared vision WellSpan has for community-based care, and we were deliberate in the decision to choose a partner who would ensure our patients continue to receive the high quality care they have come to expect from Evangelical Community Hospital," said Kendra Aucker, Evangelical’s president and CEO. "The industry is facing strong financial and workforce headwinds, and this integration will provide the best path forward, so we may continue to provide for the health and wellness needs of our communities well into the future." According to WellSpan and Evangelical, they hope to complete the merger, which requires state and federal approval, by the summer. (Wenner, Penn Live, 2/27)

Physician employers are facing a shifting physician workforce. The classic playbook for physician recruitment and retention is no longer enough. Read on for the three trends driving the changes and tips for what your organization can do to win long-term loyalty.