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WSMA Apple Awards trophies
Recognizing extraordinary contributions to the health of Washingtonians and to the house of medicine.

Awards Program

2020 Apple Award Winners

The 2020 Apple Award winners were recognized at the virtual WSMA Annual Meeting on Sept. 26, 2020.



Recipients of the 2020 Apple Awards included:

  • Kathy Lofy, MD , Kirkland epidemiologist and pediatrician, 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.
  • Darin Neven, MD , Spokane emergency medicine physician, received the Community Advocate Award, which recognizes a member of the community who provides extraordinary support to, and advocacy for, the house of medicine.
  • Vera Schulte , Bellevue medical student, 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).
  • The Everett Clinic received the Wellness Award, a new award in the Apple Awards program that recognizes an organization that has worked to put the joy back in medicine for Washington physicians.

Three WSMA members received the Grassroots Advocate Award, which recognizes their advocacy efforts and activities supporting WSMA legislative priorities. They include:

  • Jeff Duchin, MD , Seattle epidemiologist and infectious disease physician and public health officer for Seattle-King County
  • John Scott, MD , Seattle allergy and infectious disease physician, Harborview Medical Center
  • Donna Smith, MD , Seattle pediatrician, Virginia Mason

Seven WSMA members, all infectious disease physicians, received the William O. Robertson, MD, Patient Safety Award, which recognizes initiatives or advocates for patient safety.

  • Chris Baliga, MD , Virginia Mason, Seattle
  • Peter Hashisaki, MD , Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, Bellevue
  • John Lynch, MD , UW Medicine, Seattle
  • John Pauk, MD , Swedish Center for Comprehensive Care, Seattle
  • Francis Riedo, MD , EvergreenHealth, Kirkland
  • Olympia Tachopoulou Stafford, MD , CHI Franciscan, Tacoma
  • Danielle Zerr, MD , Seattle Children's.

2019 Apple Award Winners

The 2019 Apple Award winners were recognized at the WSMA Annual Meeting on Oct. 12, 2019 in SeaTac.

This year's winners are:

Darryl Potyk, MD , Spokane internist, 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. Potyk is the chief of medical education for UW School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership and associate dean for Eastern Washington for the UW School of Medicine.

Matthew Grierson, MD , Seattle physiatrist, 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). Dr. Grierson practices at the Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine clinic.

Five WSMA members received the Grassroots Advocate Award, which recognizes their advocacy efforts and activities supporting WSMA legislative priorities. They include:

Avanti Bergquist, MD , Bellevue psychiatrist, for her support of mental health priorities.

James Burkman, MD , Seattle anesthesiologist, for his work helping the association find a solution protecting patients from unnecessary balance bills.

Lucinda Grande, MD , Olympia family physician, for her advocacy around opioid use disorder treatment.

Alan Melnick, MD , Vancouver preventative medicine physician and Clark County public health officer, for his support of childhood immunizations.

Chelsea Unruh, MD , Olympia family physician, for their support of issues impacting independent physician practices.

The seventh Apple Award, the Community Unsung Hero Award, recognizes community contributions to the health and wellness of our state's citizens and was presented to Pierce County Project Access . PCPA received the award in recognition of its mission to provide donated care for patients in need in Pierce County.

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