Doctors Making a Difference: Kim Wadsworth, DO

For Kim Ha Wadsworth, DO, a primary care physician, volunteering is an exercise in gratitude. As a volunteer at The Olympia Free Clinic, she’s paying forward the acts of kindness she received from physicians and others after immigrating to the U.S. from Vietnam as a child. She talked with WSMA Reports about why she got involved with the clinic, who it serves, and the challenges it faces.

WSMA Reports: How did you get involved with volunteering at The Olympia Free Clinic?
Dr. Wadsworth: Dr. Wadsworth: Volunteering has been a consistent part of my journey since my pre-med days, continuing through medical school, residency, and into my work as a board-certified physician. After moving to Olympia to start my solo practice, getting involved with The Olympia Free Clinic felt like a natural continuation of my commitment to serving the local community, wherever I am.

Tell our readers a bit about the clinic.
At The Olympia Free Clinic, we care for uninsured and underinsured adults by providing medical, mental health, and specialty services (reproductive health, gender-affirming care, dermatology, and manual/physical therapy) at no cost. The greatest challenge is meeting the growing needs of our community with limited resources, so we are constantly working to bridge gaps in care while relying on the generosity of volunteers, donors, and community partners.

Did your personal experience immigrating to the U.S. from Vietnam inform your desire to do volunteer work in any way?
My family arrived with little more than the clothes on our backs and relied on public assistance, food stamps, and the kindness of others to build a new life. I still remember the physician who provided pro bono care after my foot got caught in the spokes of a bicycle wheel. These experiences taught me that acts of kindness and support can have a lasting impact, and they shaped my belief that everyone deserves access to compassionate, dignified care, regardless of their ability to pay. The example set by those who helped my family continues to inspire my commitment to serving others through volunteer work.

You said in a speech at a fundraising event for the clinic that “volunteerism is an act of gratitude.” Can you explain what that means to you?
As a refugee, I experienced firsthand the generosity of a community that helped my family start over in a new country. Volunteering allows me to pay that kindness forward, not out of obligation, but out of appreciation. It is a way to honor those who lent a hand at the right moment and to ensure that others receive the same support and opportunity that made such a difference in my own life.

Are there any other areas, in health care or otherwise, where you would like to get involved in volunteering?
I am interested in supporting initiatives that address the upstream drivers of health, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and health education, because those factors shape outcomes just as much as what happens in the clinic. More than anything, I value opportunities where I can show up consistently, build relationships, and contribute in a way that feels authentic, practical, and grounded in real community needs.

This article was featured in the July/August 2026 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA’s print magazine.