How you can help our advocacy on behalf of physicians and patients.
How to Get Involved in Advocacy
Do you want to get involved in WSMA’s advocacy efforts, but don’t know where to start? There are various opportunities throughout the year. Choose one or more that’s right for you.
Testifying
Before each legislative session, WSMA’s leadership team and government affairs staff carefully curate a legislative agenda that reflects WSMA’s top priorities for the upcoming year. There will be various opportunities to testify on WSMA priority legislation, as well as on issues that are of particular interest to you. While WSMA staff regularly advocate on your behalf, testimony provided by physicians can be extremely powerful, as legislators appreciate hearing your first-hand experience and expertise.
To join WSMA’s list of physician testimony advocates, you may reach out to Alex Wehinger at alex@wsma.org.
WSMA Legislative Summit
WSMA’s annual Legislative Summit in Olympia gives Washington state physicians, physician assistants, and medical students an opportunity to amplify our advocacy message. The event includes updates from health care policy leaders, a presentation on WSMA’s legislative agenda, and optional meetings with your legislative delegation. Lunch is provided. For more information on the Legislative Summit, visit the event webpage.
WSMA Annual Meeting
At the Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates, typically held in the fall, delegates propose and debate policy and elect organization leaders, among other activities. In advance of the Annual Meeting, WSMA members can submit resolutions to the House of Delegates for consideration. These policies help guide WSMA advocacy in the rulemaking and legislative processes and can be key factors in determining how the WSMA will orient to various issues.
Questions about the resolution process can be sent to WSMA’s policy team at policy@wsma.org. For more information on the Annual Meeting, visit the event webpage.
WSMA Calls to Action
Throughout the legislative session, the WSMA distributes calls to action via email asking our physician and physician assistant members to reach out to their legislative delegation on specific urgent issues. These issues are often high priorities for the WSMA, and as such, we will provide background information and talking points and prepare draft emails for you to use when contacting your local elected officials. Watch your inbox for opportunities to send a message to lawmakers.
WSMA Advocacy Report
The WSMA Advocacy Report biweekly email newsletter covers upcoming events, legislative developments, campaign news, policy updates, and more. Reading the Advocacy Report and other WSMA publications is a great way to stay up to date on issues the WSMA is currently engaging on.
WAMPAC
Want to help influence state elections that could affect house of medicine policymaking at the Capitol? Join WAMPAC, the WSMA’s nonpartisan political campaign arm, which was established to help identify and support candidates for political office whose priorities align with the physician and physician assistant communities. In campaigns for federal offices, WAMPAC partners with AMPAC, the American Medical Association’s campaign arm, to formulate and deliver contributions to candidates.
All contributions to WAMPAC are welcome, and we encourage you to join your physician and physician assistant colleagues in the WAMPAC Diamond Club for special perks, including recognition in WSMA publications, special election updates, and opportunities to connect with elected officials. You can join at any membership level and membership runs on a two-year cycle to coincide with election timelines.
- Bronze level: $250
- Silver level: $500
- Gold level: $1,000
To learn more about WAMPAC, visit the WAMPAC webpage. To donate or join WAMPAC’s Diamond Club, visit the Give to WAMPAC page.