September 27, 2021
Washington State Medical Association Recognizes Member Physicians, Others for Exemplary Service
SEATTLE (Sept. 27, 2021) - Seven physician members and two health care organizations have been recognized by the Washington State Medical Association for extraordinary leadership, service, and contributions to medicine and patient safety. These recognitions were part of the medical association's Apple Awards program presented during the 2021 WSMA Annual Meeting, held virtually on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Chris Bundy, MD, the executive medical director of the Washington Physicians Health Program, received the President's Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes the WSMA member who offers extraordinary service to the profession to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care. Dr. Bundy is a national leader in physician health and is the president of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs-a testament to his service, commitment, and the reputation of the WPHP, a program that all members of Washington's physician community can be proud of.
Yuan-Po Tu, MD, an internist at The Everett Clinic, received the Community Advocate Award, which recognizes a member of the community who provides extraordinary support to, and advocacy for, the house of medicine. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tu has played a pivotal role in helping keep his community and health care teams safe and has provided critical and influential contributions in the development of COVID-19 testing.
Amish Dave, MD, a rheumatologist with Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, received the Early Career Member of the Year Award, which recognizes a WSMA member for their service to the association's early career members (physicians in their first 10 years of practice, resident physicians, and medical students). His efforts within the WSMA's early career sections are hallmarked by his tireless championing of public health, health equity, and access to care.
UW Medicine-Valley Medical Center's Professional Satisfaction and Wellness Committee received the Wellness Award, which recognizes an organization that has worked to put the joy back in medicine for Washington physicians. The committee was honored for its efforts since 2016 to integrate clinician wellness activities across the organization.
Four WSMA members received the Grassroots Advocate Award, which recognizes their advocacy efforts and activities supporting WSMA legislative priorities. They include: Beth Harvey, MD, Olympia pediatrician and past president of the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for her advocacy on behalf of children with the Cascade Pacific Action Alliance and her instrumental support during the pandemic for the reopening of Thurston County schools; Anthony L-T Chen, MD, Tacoma family physician and the director of health for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, for his public health advocacy in Pierce County and support of WSMA's legislative priorities; Katina Rue, DO, Yakima family physician and WSMA executive committee member, for her tireless advocacy in the Legislature in 2021 on behalf of WSMA priorities; and Leo Morales, MD, professor of medicine and assistant dean with the Office of Healthcare Equity at the University of Washington and co-director of the UW Latino Center for Health, for his efforts toward increasing the Latinx physician workforce and his advocacy on behalf of Latinx physicians and physician assistants at the WSMA.
This year, the William O. Robertson, MD, Patient Safety Award goes to the MultiCare Regional Cancer Center in Auburn in recognition of its efforts to increase advance care planning (goals-of-care conversations) for patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation and to have POLST (Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) documented in the electronic medical record for patients on palliative therapy.
"These individuals and organizations represent exemplary efforts to protect and preserve the health of Washingtonians," said WSMA's outgoing 2021 president, Nathan Schlicher, MD, JD, who presented the awards during the association's virtual meeting. "In difficult times, we can all be grateful that so many in our profession continue to model the best that medicine has to offer."
For more information, contact:
Graham Short
WSMA Communications
206.329.6851 (cell/text)
gfs@wsma.org
About the WSMA
The Washington State Medical Association represents nearly 12,000 physicians, physician assistants, resident physicians, and medical students across all specialties and practice types in Washington state. The WSMA has advocated on behalf of the house of medicine for more than 125 years. Our vision is to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care.