Washington State Medical Association

"Having a clinical voice in shaping the future of health care in Washington is key for us to get the best possible outcomes for our patients." - Hans P. Cassagnol, MD, senior vice president & CMO for @VMFHealth/@commonspirit Pacific NW, in our May/June issue of #WSMAReports. Read Dr. Cassagnol's full Q&A at lnkd.in/g-4M62QT. #YourCareIsAtOurCore

Washington physicians and practice staff: Have questions about Medicare’s WISeR prior authorization initiative? Join a lunchtime webinar May 27, noon–1 p.m. with Virtix Health, @WSMA_update, Noridian, and @WAHospitals Includes live Q&A. virtixhealth.com/wiser_model/wi…

“Every family deserves a chance to achieve their best health.” David Ansell, MD, shared the inspiring efforts of Rush University Medical Center, in partnership with the community in the west side of Chicago, to take concrete steps to close the life-expectancy gap between geographic areas and address health equity through food. #WSMALDC

Great presentation from Jim Krieger, MD, on nutrition and healthy food, specifically the harms of ultra processed foods. Attendees asked a lot of great questions about proposed solutions to improving our food supply. #WSMALDC

Kicking off the Leadership Development Conference on a beautiful, chilly morning in Chelan! Check back throughout the day for more photos and updates from our speakers. #WSMALDC

Last chance to register for this weekend's Leadership Development Conference! Registration closes at the end of the day today, May 11. Get away for the weekend while strengthening your leadership skills both in and outside of the exam room. See our full conference agenda and register at: wsma.org/ldc.

Physicians play a key role in supporting women’s health by establishing trusted relationships with patients that lead to better outcomes. In the @AmerMedicalAssn's installment of “What Doctors Wish Patients Knew,” physicians share 10 things to enhance women’s health. Learn more: wsma.org/your-care-is-a… #YourCareisatOurCore #WomensHealthMonth

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that can spread very easily between people who are not immune to the disease, and the Washington State Department of Health is warning of increased risk for measles in WA.  The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective. Getting vaccinated is much safer than getting measles, and it helps protect your family and your community. Learn more: bit.ly/4ttgLpe #YourCareIsAtOurCore

Just under a week left to register for the 2026 Leadership Development Conference! Don't miss this chance to develop foundational leadership skills while exploring opportunities for leadership in the exam room and in the community, including: - Exploring how patients' social needs and health care intersect. - Talking about food insecurity. - Strategies for improving the equity and quality of diabetes care. - And much more! Online registration closes May 11. See the full weekend agenda and register at: wsma.org/ldc. #WSMALDC

"I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I’m changing the things I cannot accept." This quote from Angela Davis has guided Estell Williams, MD, in her career as a physician and advocate. Dr. Williams, a surgeon at @UWMedicine, talked with us for WSMA Reports about her deep commitment to promoting health equity through mentorship, advocacy, and early investment in students to help ensure the physician workforce mirrors the population it serves: bit.ly/4ukd3Oq #YourCareIsAtOurCore

#Measles continues to spread in Washington state, and the @WADeptHealth is urging physicians and clinics to make sure they're prepared to identify cases; notify their local health jurisdiction; understand how to test for and manage cases; and vaccinate patients. Learn more: bit.ly/4cVX1mL

The 2026 Leadership Development Conference is quickly approaching, but it's not too late to register to join us! wsma.org/ldc. Foundational leadership skills you can use in your everyday practice or leadership role are at the heart of the conference. In our closing session of the weekend, professional coaches Patricia Burgin, Rumeena Bhalla, Karen Souter, MD; and Michel Spruance will help you take what you've learned at the conference and, using foundational skills and behaviors of executive coaching, turn it into a plan of action for when you return to work. We hope to see you in Chelan next month!

How has increased immigration law enforcement activity affected patients' access to medical care due to real or perceived threat of detainment? Hear firsthand from presenters at this Friday's free CME webinar. Register: bit.ly/3UIEjGQ

“I think this course has given me a much better understanding of how to better interact with those whom I lead and those I report to. I think the course was well thought out in content for what we need to know. I sincerely appreciate the people skills the course went over and feel I have a better understanding of how to use those skills to improve relationships and team dynamics to better serve my community.” – MD participant in the WSMA Physician Leadership Course. Learn more and reserve your spot now for our fall session! bit.ly/4iK21xp

10 years of partnering on world-class medical education in Spokane! Congratulations to the @uwsomwwami and @GonzagaU for 10 years of the UW-GU Health Partnership and preparing the next generation of health care leaders to serve Spokane and Eastern Washington. spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/…

Thank you to Sen. @MariaCantwell for raising concerns with the #WISeR program currently being piloted in WA, which applies prior authorization to #Medicare for the first time. The program is creating administrative burden for physicians and clinicians and delaying care for patients. spokesman.com/stories/2026/a…

We need your leadership on the WSMA board of trustees! We're accepting nominations for a variety of positions on the board--don't miss this opportunity to help shape the practice of medicine in WA. Deadline is April 30. bit.ly/3VHSj52

Sen. @marcusriccelli has been a strong voice for health care in Olympia, and we're lucky to have him as part of the 2026 Leadership Development Conference, where he'll talk about how you can engage with the Legislature and past and future initiatives on free school meals. See the full weekend agenda and register to join us at wsma.org/ldc.

"Strong policy like SB 5395 will ensure that prior authorization decisions remain grounded in individualized clinical judgment, keeping patient care in the hands of physicians and not opaque AI systems." - Bindu Nayak, MD, WSMA vice president and Wenatchee-area endocrinologist. Read more about Senate Bill 5395, which the WSMA developed in partnership with the Washington State Hospital Association and Proliance Surgeons, that passed the Legislature this year: bit.ly/493Nuc1 hashtag#YourCareIsAtOurCore