Early Career Sections

Bridget Bush, MD
Anesthesiologist, Island Hospital, Anacortes
Chair
Dr. Bush is a board-certified anesthesiologist. She was born and raised in Reno, NV, completing her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Nevada Reno. She worked for the government through the Department of Energy with the Yucca Mountain Project during college and in their High-Level Nuclear Waste Engineering at the Savannah River Site, SC before entering medical school at Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans. She graduated in 2006 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and started her Internship with the US Navy at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va. After internship, she attended Flight School with the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Fla. She then worked as a Flight Surgeon with the Electronic Attack squadrons VAQ-138/133/132 out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., where she completed deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Upon resigning her active duty commission, she finally got to find a home in the Evergreen State, completing her anesthesiology residency at the Virginia Mason Medical Center. She is passionate about patient safety and appropriate reporting of unusual occurrences. When not working she enjoys reading, playing the piano, pole dancing, skiing and hiking with her husband and Greater Swiss Mountain dogs.

Amish J. Dave, MD
Rheumatologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle
Vice-Chair and AMA Alternate Delegate
Dr. Dave completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Russian and Eastern European history, biological sciences, and neuroscience. He completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and his internal medicine residency training at Stanford. Dr. Dave did his rheumatology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and completed his master's in public health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Dave is a rheumatologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center practicing in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. He is a board member of the King County Medical Society Board of Trustees focused on preventing childhood lead exposure and gun violence in Washington state. He is a 2006 Humanity in Action Senior Fellow, a 2007 Sue Mercy Fellow, a member of the Senior Fellows Leadership Council, and a board member of the Humanity in Action Foundation. Dr. Dave is on a member of the Washington Rheumatology Alliance, the American College of Rheumatology, the American College of Physicians, and the Washington State Medical Association.

Olabode (Bode) Akinsanya, MD
Family medicine, Overlake Medical Clinics, Issaquah
Delegate
Dr. Akinsanya is a board-certified family medicine physician who treats patients of all ages. He takes a patient-centered approach to delivering cost-effective, compassionate health care with an emphasis on preventive health care and a passion for treating the whole person. He believes the best care stems from a strong relationship between a patient and their doctor, with both working toward the patient's specific health goals and overall well-being.

Peter Barkett, MD
Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
Dr. Barkett earned a combined BS/MS in Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics from Yale University. Afterwards he returned to his home state of Michigan to attend medical school at the University of Michigan. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine with the Henry Ford Health System and began work as a hospitalist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, a tertiary care center. He relocated to Washington state with his wife and family to enjoy its natural beauty. After moving, he transitioned to clinic-based medicine with Kaiser Permanente where he sees patients and participates in leadership. Areas of focus include patient safety, quality improvement, medical policy, pharmacy and therapeutics. He currently serves as chief of outpatient Internal Medicine and strives to build effective teams and systems of care. He lives in Bremerton, WA where he raises awareness of health topics with a column in the local pater. When not working he enjoys rowing on the Puget Sound, hiking in Washington’s mountains, biking through our forests and spending time with family.

Kristopher M. Day, MD
Plastic Surgery, Athenix Body Sculpting Institute, Bellevue
From his small-town roots to Ivy League surgical training, specialization in plastic and facial surgery, and academic practice, Dr. Day’s professional journey has brought him to Athenix Body Sculpting Institute to provide exceptional care to patients in and around the Bellevue/Seattle region. He has held leadership positions within multiple professional organizations and surgical journals, has produced dozens of research conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications, and has participated in multiple service, leadership, and teaching endeavors. He looks forward to drawing on this wealth of knowledge to deliver each patient’s best outcome through a thoughtful and evidence-based approach designed to give each patient a safe and effective result. Focusing on aesthetic surgery of the body, breasts, and face, Dr. Day is dedicated to delivering the highest quality surgical care for all patients.

Dr. Day loves the opportunity to address each patient’s unique concerns with a creative and personalized approach that delivers their best outcome and life enhancement. He feels there is no greater fulfillment than a happy patient feeling they’ve reached their specific goals. Dr. Day recognizing that each individual patient requires a customized plan to be their best with long-lasting natural results, and this is what he works accomplish for every patient.

Jennifer Maxwell MD, MPH, FAAP
Family Medicine, Yakima Valley Farmworker’s Clinic
Jennifer Maxwell MD, MPH, FAAP, is a family physician, national health service corps scholar and mother of three. She completed her MD/MPH at the University of Toledo. She then attended residency at the University of Washington where she also completed a fellowship through the Teaching Scholars program in medical education. She currently works at the Yakima Valley Farmworker’s clinic in Yakima where she serves as the clinical medical director and teaches in the Sollus Northwest Nurse Practioner Residency program. She is passionate about health equity and providing healthcare to those most in need. She is excited to be able to support new physicians entering into practice. In her spare time, she enjoys playing board games, hiking, and inventing new games with her kids.

Jose Carlos Flores Rodarte, MD
Family medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
At-Large
Dr. Flores-Rodarte was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and grew up in the Central Coast of California. He studied Philosophy & Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine before earning his M.D. and M.P.H with a focus in Global Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. He is currently Chief Resident at the University of Washington’s Family Medicine Residency and has interests in serving Spanish-speaking underserved populations, as well as health policy and healthcare administration.

Catherine Yee, MD
Interventional pain physiatrist, Western WA Medical Group Orthopedics Sports, Spine & Hand, Everett
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Yee is a physician who is double-board certified in physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) and in pain medicine. Her residency training started in internal medicine in Rochester, NY, advanced training in physical medicine & rehabilitation in Chicago, and subspecialty fellowship training in pain medicine in Iowa City, IA. Her primary training and clinical focus is in managing chronic pain is with minimally invasive procedures. She approaches managing chronic pain through physical therapy, pain psychology, lifestyle changes, multimodal analgesic therapy and interventional procedures. She is a strong advocate for opioid minimization in chronic pain management by helping patients with alternative pain management methods that are safer, healthier and more evidence-based. She also encourages people to take charge of their health care through improved health literacy as a Medical Advisor to WXXI's "Second Opinion" television program.

Tsering Lhewa, MD
Pediatrics, Child and Adolescent Clinic, Vancouver
At-Large
Dr. Lhewa is a board-certified pediatrician with Child & Adolescent Clinic, where he enjoys working with a team dedicated to providing quality care for children and families in Southwest Washington. He also serves as the medical director at Innovative Services Northwest, Neurodevelopmental Center for Clark County and as the Physician Champion for Southwest Washington region of the Pediatric Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI). He moved to Southwest Washington during childhood and has since called the Evergreen State home. He did his undergraduate studies at Whitman College, medical school at University of Washington and pediatric residency at Oregon Health & Science University. He has enjoyed traveling and learning from global health work in Tibetan communities, and different parts of India and Australia. He also completed National Institutes of Health Academy fellowship program in Bethesda, Maryland and conducted biomedical research while learning more about our nation's health disparities from leading clinicians and researchers in our country. His special interests are focused on improving access and quality of care for all children and improving communication between healthcare providers and other advocates for children. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, drawing and listening to public radio.

Lola Oluyitan-Okeze, MD, MHMS
Family Medicine, 6M Geriatrics & Hospital Medicine, Seattle
At-Large
Dr. Oluyitan-Okeze, MD, loves family medicine and the opportunity it provides to be an integral part of patient care. Establishing strong, life-long relationships with patients is the reason she chose family medicine. Her patient philosophy focuses on getting to know people, not patients. She has a passion for public and global health. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, eating at new restaurants, reading/listening to audiobook autobiographies, and snorkeling.

Elizabeth (Libby) Parker, MD
Anatomic/Clinical Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle
AMA Alternate Delegate
Dr. Parker is from Alaska, studied biology at Dartmouth College, graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and is currently an Acting Assistant Professor with UW Medicine Laboratory Medicine & Pathology.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
WSMA Speaker of the House and AMA Delegate
Dr. Grierson is a board-certified physiatrist with subspecialty board certification in sports medicine. Dr. Grierson earned his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident. Having experienced his fair share of dance-related injuries, Dr. Grierson appreciates the importance of finding a physician who understands the functional impact of an injury. He is medical director of the Clinic for Performing Artists (CoPA) at Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine and is committed to helping all patients across the spectrum of age, ability, and function. Outside of work, Dr. Grierson assists in shaping health care policy through his work with the WSMA and the American Medical Association. He co-founded a local non-profit (SeaPAM) that provides treatment to local performing artists who otherwise would not have access to care. When he has time, he loves spending time hiking or skiing in the mountains or baking decadent desserts in the kitchen.

Alex Hamling, MD
Pediatrics, Pacific Medical Center Canyon Park, Bothell
Liaison from WSMA Board of Trustees
Dr. Hamling is a board-certified pediatrician working at Pacific Medical Centers at their Bothell campus. He obtained his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and his MBA in Healthcare Management from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. He completed his general pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medicine Center. Dr. Hamling serves as PacMed's Culture of Disclosure Physician Champion for process resolution for unexpected medical outcomes during care. He is also active in quality improvement projects focused on pediatric care, including vaccination safety and screening for pediatric obesity and its related diseases. He served two years as the vice chair of the WSMA Young Physicians Section Governing Council, prior to being elected chair in 2017. He also serves on the WSMA CME Program Committee and Bylaws Committee. During his off time, he enjoys geocaching, gardening, walking with his daughter to local coffee shops and dancing (salsa, swing, tango, etc.)

Nariman Heshmati, MD
Obstetrics/gynecology, The Everett Clinic, Everett
Liaison from WSMA Executive Committee and AMA Alternate Delegate
Dr. Heshmati is a board-certified OB-GYN in Everett. He completed his residency at Vanderbilt University and now practices at The Everett Clinic, where he has served on numerous committees and retains one of the highest-volume clinical practices with a focus on high-risk obstetrics and minimally invasive surgery. He also serves as the medical director for Providence Regional Medical Center's obstetrics unit, which manages 5,000 deliveries per year. He strongly believes that physicians must stay active in advocacy and serves on WSMA's board and as chair of the Washington Medical Political Action Committee. In addition, he serves as vice chair of the Washington Section of the American College of OB-GYNs (ACOG) and is a graduate of ACOG's Cefalo Leadership Institute at UNC. Through these positions he advocates for many pieces of health care legislation.

Tony Quang, MD, JD
Radiology/oncology, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Liaison from WSMA Board of Trustees
Dr. Quang is a board-certified radiation oncologist who has been practicing medicine for 15 years. He treats cancer patients, teaches medical students and residents, conducts research, and reviews clinical protocols as chairman of the VA IRB. He takes care of patients at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. He provides consulting services for risk management, medical malpractice, hospital quality improvement/peer review, entrepreneurial IT, and biotechnology start-ups working with clients to address regulatory issues in the health care community to position companies in compliance with national standards and emerging trends. As an attorney, his areas of interest include medical malpractice, contracts, clinical trials protocols, FDA regulation, and intellectual property law.

Kelsie Smith, MD
Family medicine resident, Spokane Teaching Health Clinic, Spokane
Alternate Delegate

Aubree Fairfull, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident, University of Washington
Dr Fairfull grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned her medical degree at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. She is interested in health education and helping patients obtain the highest level of health and function through comprehensive and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. In her free time, Dr Fairfull enjoys playing volleyball.

Benjamin Meyer, MD
Abdominal imaging fellow, University of Washington
Dr. Meyer hails from Sioux Falls, SD. He studied biology and history at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN before returning to South Dakota for medical school at the University of South Dakota. After medical school, he completed an internal medicine-preliminary year at USD in Sioux Falls before beginning his diagnostic radiology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin-Froedtert Hospital program. Dr. Meyer completed his final year of residency in 2020-21, during which time he served as co-chief resident. He is currently an abdominal imaging fellow physician at the University of Washington. In his free time, he enjoys exercise and exploring the beautiful outdoor scenery that Washington has to offer.

Brian Mugleston, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation resident, University of Washington, Seattle
At-Large
Dr. Mugleston is a local, having grown up in Tacoma, Washington. He earned his medical degree at UT Health in San Antonio, and afterwards came back home for a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington. Before medical school, he obtained a master's in education at UW and taught high school physics in Tacoma. He is interested in health policy, health education, and helping patients obtain the highest level of health and function through comprehensive and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. He likes being active outside in beautiful Washington State.

Ricardo Pulido, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery resident, University of Washington
I was born in Neptune, New Jersey and I am the first member of my immediate family to go to college. I went to Rutgers University - New Brunswick where I majored in biological sciences. I then went to New York University School of Medicine for medical school where I earned my M.D. I am currently an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery resident at the University of Washington where I am currently devoting 1 year research time in machine learning in sinus and skull base surgery. I enjoy playing soccer and traveling in my free time. I plan on pursuing an academic career and promoting the underserved community.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
Liaison from WSMA AMA Delegation
Dr. Grierson is a board-certified physiatrist with subspecialty board certification in sports medicine. Dr. Grierson earned his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident. Having experienced his fair share of dance-related injuries, Dr. Grierson appreciates the importance of finding a physician who understands the functional impact of an injury. He is medical director of the Clinic for Performing Artists (CoPA) at Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine and is committed to helping all patients across the spectrum of age, ability, and function. Outside of work, Dr. Grierson assists in shaping health care policy through his work with the WSMA and the American Medical Association. He co-founded a local non-profit (SeaPAM) that provides treatment to local performing artists who otherwise would not have access to care. When he has time, he loves spending time hiking or skiing in the mountains or baking decadent desserts in the kitchen.

Rasheed Durowoju, MD
Internal medicine resident, University of Washington, Seattle
Vice-Chair
Liaison from WSMA Board of Trustees
Dr. Durowoju grew up in Toronto, Canada. He earned his medical degree at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, prior to joining the internal medicine residency program at University of Washington. Before medical school, he obtained a master’s in global medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. He has strong interests in global health, health policy, and ensuring appropriate baseline healthcare needs of communities are met by the systems that serve them. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Erin K. Johnson
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane
Vice-Chair
Erin Johnson's journey to medicine started with a love for teaching and witnessing the many disparities in low income and underserved populations while volunteering in free medical clinics in Montana and Seattle. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in physiology. From there she attended Bastyr University's Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program in Kenmore, Washington. Knowing that continuation of schooling was necessary to meet patients' needs in Washington state, she determined to return to school to further her education. She is honored to be part of a medical school that focuses on community needs and advancement of health and science. She is also looking forward to participating in WSMA's Medical Student Council to create change and improve health care delivery. During her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, playing guitar and singing, camping with her husband, Jack, and riding horses. She grew up in Whitefish, Montana and has spent the last 10 years in Seattle attending school, volunteering, and working.

Reilly Bealer
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane

My name is Reilly Bealer and I am a third-year medical student at Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. I grew up in Spokane, Washington and completed and received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Sociology from Gonzaga University.

As a teenager experiencing chronic health issues and housing insecurity, I developed a passion for ensuring that disadvantaged and underserved communities have access to comprehensive health care and public health services. Over this past year, I had the opportunity to participate in a health policy and government relations fellowship with the AMA where I was able to work directly with Congress, the most recent two Presidential administrations, and our federal agencies to improve access, affordability, and equity within healthcare for physicians and our patients. I hope to continue this work of policy reform and advocacy on a local, state, and national level.

Reilly has been recently elected to serve as the AMA Medical Student Section Chair-Elect, and will be serving on our WSMA Board of Trustees as the student member.

Brian Carlson
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane
Brian grew up in the Yakima Valley before attending Washington State University for his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. In Pullman, he was a student Strength & Conditioning Coach for three years and trained college athletes in a number of different sports. After graduating he attended San Diego State University where he obtained two master's degrees the first in exercise physiology and the second in nutritional science. He is currently one of the co-leads for the Orthopedic Special Interest Group, lead for the Anatomy Teaching Assistant Program, and one of two College of Medicine Senators for the Associated Students of Washington State University Health Sciences. He currently volunteers his time as a mentor to first year medical students, WSU Honors College undergraduate students, and gives mock interviews for prospective medical students applying to WSU. He also spend time volunteering around Spokane with elementary and middle school students interested in STEM and a career in medicine. As a member of the Medical Student Section, he is excited to collaborate with fellow medical students across the state and better learn how to be an advocate for fellow medical students and their future patients.

Victoria Panwala
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane
Victoria grew up in Portland, Oregon, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. After college, she worked as a research assistant at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, where she developed a passion for advocacy to improve care and reduce stigma for people who use drugs. She is now a second-year medical student at Washington State University, and is looking forward to participating in the WSMA’s Medical Student Council to learn how to improve healthcare delivery at a policy level.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
Liaison from WSMA AMA Delegation
Dr. Grierson is a board-certified physiatrist with subspecialty board certification in sports medicine. Dr. Grierson earned his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident. Having experienced his fair share of dance-related injuries, Dr. Grierson appreciates the importance of finding a physician who understands the functional impact of an injury. He is medical director of the Clinic for Performing Artists (CoPA) at Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine and is committed to helping all patients across the spectrum of age, ability, and function. Outside of work, Dr. Grierson assists in shaping health care policy through his work with the WSMA and the American Medical Association. He co-founded a local non-profit (SeaPAM) that provides treatment to local performing artists who otherwise would not have access to care. When he has time, he loves spending time hiking or skiing in the mountains or baking decadent desserts in the kitchen.

Hart Edmonson
University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

Hart Edmonson is a third year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. Prior to medical school, Hart worked in the U.S. House of Representatives as Chief of Staff to Congressman Denny Heck (WA10) for five years, and for Congressman Norm Dicks (WA6). After leaving Capitol Hill in 2016, Hart served as the founding Administrative Director for the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine at the University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences.

Hart attended the University of Puget Sound, majoring in Politics and Government, and minoring in Chemistry. He received his Masters of Science in Education from the Johns Hopkins University.

In his free time, Hart enjoys playing classical piano and reading fiction. He is an avid hiker and skier in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.