WSMA Annual Meeting

The WSMA is governed by a House of Delegates comprising elected delegates from each county medical society, qualified state specialty societies, and members of the WSMA board of trustees. There is one young physician delegate, one resident delegate, and three student delegates (one from each of the three medical schools in Washington state). Each county society has one delegate for every 50 members of the county society who are active or active limited WSMA members.

Each medical specialty society is entitled to elect or appoint one delegate and one alternate, provided that such specialty society has as members at least 100 active members of the WSMA, or if the specialty society has fewer than 100 members, 50% of its members must belong to the WSMA.

Delegates are expected to be available for one year of service from the beginning of the House of Delegates meeting until the House of Delegates meeting the following year. Delegates shall be available to provide input and information and guidance to the WSMA’s board of trustees and executive committee as they administer and interpret policy set by the House of Delegates, and as they make policy decisions when the House of Delegates is not in session.

All legislative power of the WSMA—including the power to alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws—is vested in the House of Delegates. All business of the House of Delegates is conducted according to parliamentary procedures as outlined in "The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure." The speaker of the House serves as parliamentarian. The speaker of the House is Matthew Grierson, MD, of Seattle. The vice speaker of the House is Ray Hsiao, MD, of Seattle.

Policymaking at the meeting is primarily driven by resolutions. A resolution is a proposal asking the WSMA to take a position or act on an issue. Learn more about resolutions and how they help create and guide WSMA policy.

How the House of Delegates operates

The House convenes its opening session on Saturday morning of the WSMA Annual Meeting. At this time, guests are invited to speak to the delegates and all reports and resolutions are referred to reference committees. This is followed by meetings of the reference committees on Saturday.

The House holds a second session on Sunday morning. The reference committees present their reports for consideration by the House on Sunday.

Learn more about the House of Delegates.

Learn more about delegate duties.

All meetings are at the Westin Bellevue Hotel. The staff office is in the Lake Sammamish Room.

Friday, September 19

9:00 am
AI in Clinical Medicine Conference

6:00 pm
Board of trustees dinner

6:45 pm
Board of trustees meeting

Saturday, September 20

6:30 am
AMA delegation meeting

7:00 am
Registration and visit exhibits

7:00 am
Reference Committee orientation breakfast

7:00 am
Welcome breakfast for new attendees

8:00 am
HOUSE OF DELEGATES

9:30-10:00 am
Break with Exhibitors

10:00 am
Reference Committee B

10:00 am
Reference Committee C

12:30 pm
WAMPAC Luncheon

2:00-3:00 pm
Keynote presentation: Strong Enough to Soften: Redefining Resilience in Times of Rapid Change – Sara Tamarin, MD

3:00 pm
Break with exhibitors

3:30-4:30 pm
Presentation from American Medical Association Board Chair David Aizuss, MD

4:30-4:45 pm
Inauguration of incoming WSMA President Bridget Bush, MD, FASA

4:45 pm
Reception

Sunday, September 21

7:00 am
WSMA past presidents’ breakfast

7:00 am
Early Career Joint Governing Councils meeting

7:00 am
CMS Caucuses

8:00 am
HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Keynote presentation

Strong Enough to Soften: Redefining Resilience in Times of Rapid Change - Sara Tamarin, MD

Health care is evolving at breakneck speed. Clinicians are navigating shifting priorities, new technologies, increasing corporatization, and heightened productivity demands—all while striving to provide excellent, compassionate care. The commitment to doing right by patients hasn’t wavered—but the conditions for delivering that care have become more strained than ever.

And when clinicians ask for what they need—schedule adjustments, in-basket support, staffing help, time to think—they’re often met with delay, vague promises, or silence. This is the paradox many clinicians are facing: The work is changing fast—but the systems meant to support you are slow to evolve.

In this keynote, physician and clinician coach Sara Tamarin, MD, reframes resilience not as grit or silent endurance, but as a practice of emotional clarity, sustainable boundaries, and self-compassion.

Drawing on her work coaching hundreds of clinicians, she shares mindset tools and real- world strategies that help clinicians navigate uncertainty, reclaim their energy, and protect their ability to serve patients well—not by sacrificing themselves, but by honoring their own humanity, too.

Sara Tamarin, MD, is a physician and professional coach who helps health care professionals build agency, clarity, and sustainability in their careers. After nearly two decades in clinical practice, she now coaches physicians and other clinicians—from early career to seasoned professionals, including those in leadership—to build sustainable, fulfilling lives in medicine. She is the creator of a nationally recognized coaching program that has supported hundreds of clinicians across disciplines, with a focus on actionable strategies grounded in neuroscience, mindset work, and the realities of modern medical practice. Known for her powerful metaphors, practical tools, and the insight she brings to every conversation, Dr. Tamarin helps those she works with identify what truly matters and meet challenges with intention, compassion, and strength.

How the AMA is Fighting for Physicians - David Aizuss, MD

David Aizuss, MD, a California ophthalmologist, is chair of the American Medical Association board of trustees and is active in a broad range of key leadership positions in his state and local specialty societies. He has served as president of the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, the Los Angeles Society of Ophthalmology, and the Los Angeles County Medical Association. First elected to the AMA board of trustees in June 2020, Dr. Aizuss began his active advocacy in organized medicine early and has participated in the AMA his entire career, attending his first AMA annual meeting in 1978 while attending medical school at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. Later, in June 1979, he was elected to the AMA Medical Student Section Governing Council.

The meeting is being held at The Westin Bellevue hotel, located at 600 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Book your room reservations by Aug. 29 to receive our special room rate of $179 per night at The Westin. Book online here.

WSMA’s virtual reference committees allow WSMA members the opportunity to review and provide feedback on resolutions in the weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates in the fall. These secure, password-protected members-only discussion forums provide for greater access to the policymaking process, allowing WSMA members from across the state ample opportunity to participate in the WSMA’s primary policymaking engine and helping to streamline the reference committee process.

Testimony provided in the virtual reference committees is compiled and provided to the reference committee members prior to the Annual Meeting and distributed to members attending the in-person reference committee hearings at the meeting. Testimony provided in the virtual reference committees is given equal weight to that of in-person testimony.

Resolutions are posted in the virtual reference committees starting in mid-to-late-August. Learn more and join the discussion on our Virtual Reference Committees page.

The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WSMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^™ .

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

No one in control of content has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

The WSMA may have a photographer or videographer on-site at this event to gather imagery for use by the WSMA in its communications materials and channels as well as for media outreach. These images will be the property of the WSMA, and the WSMA will not sell or otherwise market event imagery. If you have any questions regarding imagery taken at a WSMA event, please contact Milana McLead at 206.441.9762 or milana@wsma.org.

The WSMA wishes to thank the following corporate partners for their generous contribution. Learn more about becoming a partner.

Exclusive Premier Partner

Protecting your healthcare organization. Your business. Your reputation and life’s work. Physicians Insurance is a boutique mutual insurance company based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to protecting, defending, and supporting our Members with a suite of medical professional liability offerings and exceptional, personalized service. Backed with strong financials, Physicians Insurance delivers proactive protection for you now, and for whatever the future may hold.

Sustainer

 

Northern Capital Management has experience working with the distinctive financial requirements of physicians, physician assistants, and their practices. Financial planning and wealth management are tailored to your specific investment goals and objectives. WSMA is a client and paid promoter, as a result there is an inherent conflict of interest. Disclosure

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