Early Career Sections

Olabode (Bode) Akinsanya, MD
Family medicine, Overlake Medical Clinics, Issaquah
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.

Bridget Bush, MD
Anesthesiologist, Providence Regional Medical Center, Everett
Dr. Bush is a board-certified anesthesiologist in Everett. 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 and has been employed as an attending anesthesiologist at the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett since graduation in 2014. 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
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.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine & rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
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 healthcare 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.

Amit Ashok Habbu, MD, MPH
Radiologist, Kadlec Regional Medical Center & Columbia Basin Imaging PC
Dr. Habbu is a radiologist in Richland. He completed his Diagnostic Radiology Residency at the Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, NY, and Abdominal Imaging fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He specializes in Body MRI and Cancer Imaging. He is most interested in starting and developing new imaging programs from the ground up, finding that this helps him make specialized imaging available to patients locally who otherwise would need to travel significantly long distances to tertiary centers for cancer care. I started Prostate cancer MRI program at KRMC in 2016 to provide advanced prostate cancer imaging locally. He also provides advanced body MRI imaging for other cancers including hepatobiliary, pancreatic, renal and rectal cancers.

Alex Hamling, MD
Pediatrics, Pacific Medical Center Canyon Park, Bothell
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.)

Kalpita M. Hatti, MD
Rheumatologist, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Providence Health System
Dr. Hatti is board certified in Internal medicine and Rheumatology. She completed her residency at the Rochester General Hospital, NY and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She is also the lead principal investigator for clinical trials in her department. She has a special interest in working with patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, lupus and vasculitis. Dr. Hatti is dedicated to building an open and trusting relationship with her patients. She enjoys helping patients with chronic arthritic illnesses and establishing genuine long-term relationships. She also plays an active role in teaching and is faculty at the Washington State University as well as Kadlec Family Medicine Residency program. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, cooking and exercising.

Nariman Heshmati, MD
Obstetrics/gynecology, The Everett Clinic, Everett
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.

Carolyn Kay, MD
Locum tenens OB-GYN, Seattle
Dr. Kay is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Edmonds, Washington. She completed her residency at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York. Dr. Kay is committed to advancing women's health and agency in the United States and around the world. Her clinical interests lie in reproductive health, minimally invasive surgery and medical education. In her spare time, she enjoys salsa dancing and making Korean food.

Tsering Lhewa, MD
Pediatrics, Child and Adolescent Clinic, Vancouver
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, The Everett Clinic, Bothell
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 my patients is the reason she chose family medicine. Herpatient philosophy focuses on getting to know people, not patients. She is glad to be a part of The Everett team because they embody the true essence of medicine: doing what is right for each patient. She chose The Everett Clinic because they provide a supportive workplace where she is able to focus on taking care of patients. She also 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.

Tony Quang, MD, JD
Radiology/oncology, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
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.

Daniel Stein, MD
Family medicine, West Olympia Family Medicine, Olympia
Dr. Stein is a board certified family medicine physician. Born and raised in Minnesota, he remained in state to attend medical school at the University of Minnesota. During this time, he founded the medical school's Public Health Interest Group and served as student senate chair of the Academic Health Center. After graduating, Dr. Stein moved to Olympia, Washington for residency at St. Peter Family Medicine where he developed a focus on community health and preventative medicine. After completing his residency, he remained in Southwest Washington, establishing a primary care practice and building a multidisciplinary team in the medical home model. Dr. Stein has been serving on the Thurston Mason County Medical Society board for the past four years and has been active in the Washington State Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians. Aside from medicine, Dr. Stein enjoys playing ultimate Frisbee, painting, hiking, baking and gardening.

Catherine Yee, MD
Interventional pain physiatrist, Western WA Medical Group Orthopedics Sports, Spine & Hand, Everett
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.

Mara Hazeltine, MD
Resident, Family Medicine, Spokane
Dr. Hazeltine is from Spokane, studied psychology at the University of Washington, and then went on to teach middle school math in Colorado. She discovered an enthusiasm for family health and returned to health care. She graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine and is currently a resident at Family Medicine Residency Spokane.

Audrey Leung, MD
Fellow, Spinal Cord Injury, University of Washington, Seattle
Dr. Leung is from Ames, Iowa, and majored in Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Iowa before graduating from medical school at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. After completing residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, she moved to Seattle to specialize in Spinal Cord Injury medicine at the University of Washington. She is interested in wellness initiatives and helping patients reach their maximal functional potential and reintegrate into the community through multidisciplinary rehabilitation. In her free time, she enjoys doing flying trapeze.

Daniel Low, MD
Family medicine resident, Swedish Cherry Hill, Seattle
Dr. Low is a family medicine resident physician at Swedish Cherry Hill in Seattle. He is most interested in cross-cultural and underserved medicine, as well as end-of-life care.

Brian Mugleston, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation resident, University of Washington, Seattle
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.

David Niumatalolo, MD
PGY3, Rehab, University of Washington
Dr. David Niumatalolo is originally from Laie, Hawaii. He earned his undergraduate degree from New Mexico State University, and later his medical degree from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine. He is currently a resident at the University of Washington specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Growing up in an underserved area on the North shore of Oahu he is very interested in rural medicine and providing care to underserved populations.

Elizabeth (Libby) Parker, MD
Anatomic/clinical pathology resident, University of Washington, Seattle
Dr. Parker is from Alaska, studied biology at Dartmouth College, graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and is currently an anatomic pathology resident at the University of Washington.

Elroy An
University of Washington, Seattle
Elroy is a first-year medical student at the University of Washington in Seattle. His educational background includes a master's in medical science from Loyola University Chicago. He also has a BS in biochemistry with a background in aging research from the University of Washington. With a passion to serve the underserved, he was one of the pioneering 2012 Teach for America corps members in Washington. In the classroom, he taught high school science, served as the science department chair, contributed as a district curriculum developer, and served as the head tennis coach. Elroy's policy and advocacy interests include Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) health, health care access for the underserved, and health care equity.

Reilly Bealer
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane
Reilly Bealer is a first-year medical student at WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. She is currently doing pre-clinical years in Spokane and will then complete clinical rotations in the Tri-Cities. Prior to medical school, she graduated with a degree in Biology from Gonzaga University. She spent several years working as a medical scribe in pediatric neurology and internal medicine. Reilly is excited to work with WSMA/AMA teaching fellow medical students to write resolutions and advocating for improved access to health care for the people of Washington state, especially for those who are underserved. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading books, and taking her corgi named Milo for runs.

Carly Celebrezze
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane
Prior to medical school, Carly graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree in human physiology and then from University College London with a master's degree in global health and development. She then worked at a community health center in Wenatchee, helping to lead the outreach department. Her professional interests include global health, child health, post-operative pain management, and the use of mobile medicine to serve underserved populations, and her personal interests include traveling and adventuring. As a member of the Medical Student Section, she is interested to learn more about health care policy, advocacy, and ways in which practitioners can make a positive impact on the health care system.

Maycee Gielow
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima
Maycee completed her bachelor's degree in secondary education in mathematics and Spanish at Northwest Nazarene University where she received a scholarship for track and field. Prior to attending medical school, she worked as a middle- and high-school math and Spanish teacher and coach for five years in districts where the overwhelming majority of students lived at or below the federal poverty level. During that time, she helped pilot an academic program for at-risk youth to improve academic performance and behavior; taught weekend, summer, and night school for credit recovery; and participated in several committees working to improve equity in public education. Maycee, her husband, and their two dogs have enjoyed exploring the Yakima Valley over the past three years. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling. She is interested in health policy that addresses health care equity, health care economics, and physician training.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
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.

Erin Hegarty
University of Washington, Spokane
Erin Hegarty grew up in the Tri-Cities, before attending Baylor University for her bachelors degree in health science studies and the University of North Carolina for her masters degree in sport administration. Before coming to the University of Washington, she spent a year coaching cross country and track at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. She is very much enjoying being a medical student and resident of Spokane. Something about which Erin is particularly passionate is the impact the practice of medicine has on the environment. Erin is excited about the opportunity to serve the University of Washington - Spokane as its WSMA representative and looks forward to learning from its members.

Alexander Hoffmann
University of Washington, Seattle
Alex was born and raised in Spokane where he attended Whitworth University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in biology. Alex has served in leadership roles across the UW School of Medicine, including as vice president of the Medical Student Association, member of the admissions committee, and chapter president of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He is interested in advocating on behalf of persons historically marginalized or underrepresented in medicine, including the LGBTQIA+ community, patients experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance use disorders, and patients without sufficient access to health care. He plans to pursue a career in academic cardiology.

Erin K. Johnson
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane

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.

Andrew Liechty
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane
Andrew is a second-year medical student at Washington State University. His current medical interests include movement disorders and musculoskeletal conditions. He became interested in policy issues through a variety of experiences that illuminated the need to not only seek out solutions on a personal level, but also look at systemic issues that are having broad effects on society. He is interested in issues related to addiction and social inequity. In his spare time, he enjoys climbing and being outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.

Erik Risa
University of Washington, Spokane
Erik Risa is a second-year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Spokane. He is interested in otolaryngology and neurosurgery. Prior to starting medical school, he was an ethics fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University where he developed an interest for neuroethics and biomedical research, and the political and societal conversation surrounding those topics. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, music, playing soccer, and being outdoors.

Vera Schulte
University of Washington, Spokane
Vera is the WSMA Medical Student Section chair at the University of Washington in Spokane. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2017 with a degree in physics. After a summer of hiking and traveling, she started medical school at the UW Spokane campus. In St. Louis, she developed a passion for health policy and advocacy, an interest which she is pursuing during her involvement with the WSMA and AMA.

Mitchel Wagner
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima
Mitchel grew up in Grandview, Washington and became passionate about the science of medicine during his undergraduate years at Washington State University in the Tri-Cities. He hopes to become an emergency medicine physician. As part of the Medical Student Section, he plans to advocate for policies that encourage physicians to serve and help improve care in underserved areas of Washington state where access to care is often scarce and expensive. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jocelyn, and their one-year-old daughter Isabella. He also enjoys playing video games and trying new foods.