Washington State Medical Association

WSMA President Bridget Bush, MD, on why all physicians and care teams should attend the 2026 Leadership Development Conference, May 15–16 at Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan. #WSMALDC vimeo.com/1170429026?fl=…

State-of-the-art education, career development, forming of lifelong connections, a spring resort backdrop are the essential ingredients that make the WSMA Leadership Development Conference a can't-miss opportunity for physicians & teams. Join us this May! wsma.org/ldc

Patient communication is the foundation of patient-physician trust. At this year’s WSMA Leadership Development Conference, podcast superstar Kelly Casperson, MD, will blend humor, candor, and science as she presents a keynote on restoring trust in modern medicine: wsma.org/ldc

On #MatchDay, we celebrate the next step in a medical student’s training to become a trusted healer and advocate for their patients. 🩺Some of WSMA's leaders reminisced on their Match Day memories and their advice for students beginning their residencies: tinyurl.com/wsmamatch #YourCareisatOurCore

Health care leaders are navigating an increasingly complex landscape—where misinformation, politicization, and the growing impact of social drivers of health are reshaping the patient experience and challenging one of our profession’s most essential foundations: trust. The WSMA Leadership Development Conference is designed to meet this moment. Join physicians, physician assistants, and care teams from across the state to explore how those in health care can serve as effective community advocates, elevate evidence-based voices, and lead meaningful change in today’s environment. Learn more and register at wsma.org/ldc.

President of @ACPIMPhysicians, @jasongoldmanmd, talks about the recent ruling blocking changes to U.S. vaccine policy. For WSMA members: - The West Coast Health Alliance has links to the most recent evidence-based vaccine recommendations: bit.ly/3P77ljJ - The WSMA is proud to have supported a recently passed bill in the Washington state Legislature that allows the @WADeptHealth to make recommendations on vaccines in consultation with expert organizations: bit.ly/4rB36dG

A coalition of leading medical professional societies and public health organizations today announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a preliminary injunction to stay Secretary Kennedy's appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as the appointments were likely made in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Judge Brian Murphy also stayed all votes taken by the now-stayed ACIP: f.mtr.cool/efybugzzig

Make your chart lawyer proof. Join Physicians Insurance tomorrow, 3/17, for a free webinar exploring how everyday documentation practices can either protect physicians or create risk, with a focus on charting habits that commonly lead to litigation. go.phyins.com/risk-factors-m…

Expanding access to high-resolution anoscopy is critical to preventing anal cancer, as HRA is the gold-standard method for detecting and treating precancerous lesions before they become invasive disease. The WSMA House of Delegates passed a resolution in 2025 to expand access to this screening. 🖥️ Join us April 3 at noon to hear from Bob Geise, MD, one of the resolution's authors and infectious disease and travel medicine physician at @VMFHealth, on how and when patients should be screened. Register: bit.ly/40Y78lk

Yesterday, @GovBobFerguson signed one of WSMA's top-priority bills, HB 2242, into law. This bill ensures Washingtonians have continued access to preventive care, including life-saving vaccines, on a covered basis. Thank you to the governor, Inusrance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, the legislation's sponsors Rep. Dan Bronoske and Sen. Annette Cleveland, and the many organizations that advocated for this bill! Read more: insurance.wa.gov/about-us/news/…

🍎WSMA members: Do you have a colleague who goes above and beyond in service to their patients or community, in their advocacy efforts, or in patient safety? Nominate them (or yourself!) for the 2026 WSMA Apple Awards by 4/24: bit.ly/4srHuRH

A new poll shows who Americans trust most for information on their health, and primary care physicians and practitioners are at the top of the list. 86% are confident that their doctor, nurse, or other primary health care practitioner is providing trustworthy information. Confidence in one’s own personal physician or practitioner remains the highest of all measured items. #YourCareIsAtOurCore annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/stark-divide-a…

Register for the conference at wsma.org/LDC. We hope to see you this May!

WSMA President Bridget Bush, MD, on why all physicians and care teams should attend the 2026 Leadership Development Conference, May 15–16 at Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan. #WSMALDC vimeo.com/1170429026?fl=…

“It is so enlightening that a small act of compassion can create a sense of belonging and importance for someone who really needs it.” Jens Metzger, MD, Vancouver internist, talked with the WSMA about his volunteer work with Battle Ground Health Care, a free clinic whose mission is to be a medical home for chronic disease management for the underserved in Clark County. bit.ly/4rghh7R #YourCareIsAtOurCore

Volunteers are still needed for the Seattle King County Clinic this April! If you're interested in volunteering, visit seattlecenter.org/skcclinic/volu…. Sign up for the waitlist if your desired roles or shifts are full.

At this year's #WSMALDC we're exploring how physicians can be leaders through advocating for their patients in the exam room and in the community. Read more from @WSMA_CEO on how speakers will address social determinants of health, equip you with communication strategies to restore patient trust, and help you turn what you've learned into a plan of action for when you return to work: bit.ly/4u7o5ar. Register for the conference at wsma.org/LDC.

Make sure you’re getting well-vetted, evidence-based health info on social media: Follow The Big 5—the national chapters of pediatricians, family physicians, OB-GYNs, internists, and psychiatrists. Find their accounts and more: bit.ly/4nTDTtS  #YourCareIsatOurCore

Make your chart lawyer proof. As part of its "Risk Factors" series, this Physicians Insurance webinar on March 17 will explore how everyday documentation practices can either protect physicians or create risk, with a focus on charting habits that commonly lead to litigation. Register free: go.phyins.com/risk-factors-m…