THANK YOU to everyone who attended and sponsored our GALA! What an inspiring evening!
We will be posting the recording soon!
SF Bay PSR’s Annual GALA: Gathering for Action, Leadership, and Advocacy
Democracy in Crisis and the Courage to Act
With Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward: a national nonprofit using litigation to protect our constitutional rights
This event was on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, online!
The evening will feature Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward and author of the New York Times bestseller, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times. At a time when the news can leave us feeling overwhelmed, we’re looking forward to her message of hope and action—and a reminder of the power health professionals and ordinary people have to make a difference.
Recent Democracy Forward victories include successful challenges to policies threatening access to health-professions education and efforts to impose ideological control over the University of California system.
We will also be celebrating our amazing Emerging Health-Activist Awardees!
Read about their impressive work here.
Whether you’re a physician, nurse, researcher, scientist, public health professional, student, academic, advocate—or simply someone who cares deeply about what happens next—we hope you’ll be there.
Keynote Speaker Skye Perryman!
Skye Perryman is the president and CEO of Democracy Forward a national leader using the law to build collective power and advance equity, justice, and democracy. She will share one of the most important tools we have in this moment, the ability to litigate against — to sue —our government, and win!
Former Chief Legal Officer, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
TIME 100 Honoree | 2026 Woman Lawyer of the Year (WBA-DC)
Author of NY Times bestselling book Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times
Read Democracy Forward’s REPORT: The Second Front: The Escalating Right-Wing Legal Threats Beyond the White House
THANK YOU to our generous Gala Sponsors!
Democracy Defenders
Barbara C. Erny, MD
Robert M. Gould, MD & Patrice Sutton, MPH
Janice L. Kirsch, MD, MPH
Nancy J. Newman & Mark Walstrom
Tom Newman, MD, MPH & Johannah Newman, PharmD
Justice Champions
Michael J. Martin, MD, MPH & Jeannee P. Martin, RN, MPH
Trainer Family Fund, Ben and Laurie Trainer
Community Builders
Rohini Haar, MD, MPH & Jacob Haar, MA
Mary L. Williams, MD & Peter M. Elias, MD
Westlight Energy
Civic Advocates
Bret Andrews, DO
Betty Doerr
Michael Geschwind, MD, PhD
Marshall C. Goldberg MD MPH
Camilla McCalmont, MD, and Timothy McCalmont, MD
Marj Plumb, DrPH, MNA & Tracy Weitz, PhD
Jeff Ritterman, MD & Vivien Feyer, EdM, CAS
Li-hsia Wang, MD & Henry L. Abrons, MD, MPH
Grassroots Supporters
American Lung Association in California
Robin Cooper, MD & Bob Harrison, MD
Tova Fuller, MD, PhD
Ann Harvey, MD
Steve Heilig, MD, MPH
Sarah Janssen, MD, PhD, MPH
Sierra Club, San Francisco Bay Chapter
UC Berkeley School of Public Health
Friends of Democracy
Jane Armbruster
Berkeley Faculty Association
Annemarie Charlesworth & Derek Suring
Margie Chen, MD
Andy Coren, MD
Finn Fox
Jon Frappier & Sara Theiss
Caren Gould, MD
Bonnie C. Hamilton, MD
Howard Kornfeld, MD
Karina Maher, MD
Cynthia Mahoney, MD
Brigid McCaw, MD, MPH, & William Finzer
UCSF Faculty Association
BECOME A SPONSOR!
We are looking for both financial sponsors ($200 to $10,000) and outreach sponsors.
Your sponsorship is an investment in SF Bay PSR’s work. It allows us to educate, organize, and mobilize health professionals and advocates to protect public health, defend science, advance climate and environmental justice, and advocate for policies that create healthier communities.
FINANCIAL SPONSORS
We are looking for financial sponsors from $200 to $10,000 or more. By sponsoring the 2026 SF Bay PSR GALA, you or your organization will demonstrate a commitment to protecting democracy, advancing science, and improving public health. Find sponsorship levels and submit your donation using our secure Zeffy service here or at the button below. (Zeffy will not charge fees on your sponsorship giving.) Please contact our Executive Director Marj Plumb at director@sfbaypsr.org for assistance.
BECOME A SPONSOR HERE
FIND downloadable sponsorship levels and details here.
OUTREACH SPONSORS
Organizations may also participate as Outreach Sponsors by sharing the event with your networks. This is a meaningful way to support the event, expand reach, and engage your community in this important conversation. Outreach Sponsors will receive recognition on the event slideshow, promotional materials, and event webpage. Please email Associate Director Julie Lindow at Julie@sfbaypsr.org.