We asked Sacramento health leaders about wait times, drug costs and more

FEATURED STORY: The region’s health systems are facing challenges around Sacramento’s sudden population boom and aging demographics. This month, Comstock’s talks to four local health leaders about some of the most pressing questions our readers have.

Maybe it was during the third hour in an ER waiting room, sitting with a loved one who was doubled over in pain. Or when you learned there was no generic version of the medication your doctor prescribed, and you had to weigh your health against taking a vacation. Or maybe it was when insurance premiums went up this year, pushing you into a cheaper plan and forcing you to cancel an elective surgery.

Medical staff will tell you they’ve asked the same question, often while fighting insurance companies over procedures they won’t cover: Does our health care system actually work?

The challenges facing health systems today are broad and interconnected. In the Sacramento region, sustained pressure has yielded innovation.

Comstock’s spoke with four regional health care leaders overseeing care for hundreds of thousands of patients. Their conversations offer insight on how major systems are adapting, from expanding physician training programs and rethinking traditional care models to investing in digital access, neighborhood clinics and hospital-at-home programs.

They also bring attention to the stories that aren’t being told.

– Dakota Morlan, managing editor

In case you missed it: Canon Chef and Owner Finds Success by Embracing His Sacramento Roots

Some chefs live to cook. Others love to open restaurants. Cecchi is a different kind of chef: a community-minded advocate and entrepreneur who sees everything through the lens of food.

Startup of the Month: Sortify

Non-recyclable products in the recycling stream cost U.S. material recovery facilities at least $300 million per year in additional labor. A team from UC Davis wants to help us throw trash away the right way.

Our Company’s Name Is Being Used by Job Scammers. What Can We Do for Damage Control?

Job seekers need to keep vigilant, but there are several things you can do to help make that easier.

Between Sacramento and the Ski Slopes, a Gold Rush Town Serves Bacon Flights and Bagels

Compared to the Bay Area, Sacramento is pretty close to Tahoe’s ski slopes, but even a short drive requires a proper breakfast.

Have You Nominated Her Yet?

Comstock’s is now accepting nominations for our 12th annual salute to women in leadership. We’re looking for top-tier executives who make a demonstrated difference in their industries, companies, communities and the next generation of the workforce. Here’s the nomination form.

Recommendations From Our Staff

Judy: Why not start the new year with a rant? I flew to New York last weekend for my daughter Alyssa’s baby shower. Flying east, my flight was delayed twice, and I barely made my connection. Returning home, my flights were delayed three times. What happens now is that you’re on the plane, taxiing to the runway, when the pilot suddenly stops. Air traffic control says we have to wait another hour before takeoff. So many passengers miss their connections. I now urge anyone to allow at least two hours between flights so you don’t become either a stranded passenger or a madwoman like me, running through the airport to the next gate to hopefully make the flight.

Jennifer: This weekend I made pancakes, and while I did, an odd, familiar tune floated to the surface of my brain from the muddy depths of memory: “I like to make pancakes. They are so very tasty. I could eat them all day because they’re so very tasty.” It was a song from the early days of YouTube, back before there was any algorithm to speak of, and a team of actual humans chose some videos to post on the front page of the website every day — including this lucky stop-motion piece. The video has since been deleted from YouTube, but I found it on the Internet Archive. I was so delighted, I immediately donated $5.

Odds and Ends

To kick off the new year, we’re diving into tariffs, job-hugging and other forces shaping the 2026 economy. Access the January issue right now on your computer, phone or tablet.

But wait — it’s even better in print! Subscribe today.

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