Member Feedback and Engagement Drive Our Work. Here Are Two Opportunities.

By Jennifer Hanscom

This past weekend in Chelan, WSMA members gathered for our annual Leadership Development Conference. While attendance was smaller than in years past, the energy and engagement in the room were strong, with a shared focus on advocating for our patients and our profession.

As always, some of the most meaningful moments happened between the learning sessions in casual hallway conversations. Members bonded over questions of how we can continue to connect and collaborate better, and how to effectively speak up on the issues that matter most to medicine and the patients we serve.

As a physician-led, patient-focused organization, the WSMA wants to hear directly from you. Member feedback helps shape our advocacy priorities, member programs, and the support we provide to physicians of all specialties and practice types across Washington.

Please take a few minutes to complete the WSMA member survey by clicking here. Your input will help us better serve you, your profession, and your patients.

A few things to know:

• All questions are optional, and every response is valuable.
• Your feedback will help guide WSMA’s future direction and ensure we continue providing meaningful support to members.
• Thank you in advance for sharing your perspective.

Looking ahead: WSMA Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates

With the Leadership Development Conference behind us, WSMA now turns its attention to our annual policy-setting meeting: the Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates, taking place Sept. 26-27 at the Historic Davenport in Spokane.

At the center of the House of Delegates process are resolutions, proposals that guide WSMA policy. Much like bills introduced in the Legislature, resolutions identify actions the WSMA should take or policies the association should adopt.

Only delegates to the House or a member of the WSMA board of trustees may submit resolutions, but we can help any WSMA member connect to a delegate or board member to advance their resolution idea.

New for 2026: Online resolution submission

Delegates are now required to submit resolutions through a new online submission form designed to modernize and streamline the process.

• Use the WSMA Resolution Submittal Form to submit a resolution for the 2026 House of Delegates meeting.
• Learn more about how to write, format, and find sponsors for your resolution here.
• The deadline for submitting resolutions is Aug. 27.

How resolutions are debated, refined, and acted on

Here’s a quick overview of how resolutions are reviewed and debated:

• Resolutions submitted to the House of Delegates are first reviewed by reference committees. Similar to legislative committees, reference committees allow for guided discussion and refinement of resolutions. The House of Delegates features two reference committees, Reference Committee B and Reference Committee C. The work of each committee is guided by a three-member team of volunteer WSMA members familiar with the House of Delegates.
• The reference committees will now use testimony submitted through the virtual reference committees in the run-up to the WSMA Annual Meeting to draft preliminary reports prior to the meeting. All WSMA members are encouraged to visit the virtual reference committees to review resolutions and provide testimony in the months prior to the meeting.
• These preliminary reports will be presented during the live, in-person reference committee sessions on Sept. 26 at the meeting.
• Delegates will still be able to pull items from the consent calendar for discussion, debate, and amendment during the in-person reference committee sessions.
• Revised reference committee reports will then be considered by the full House on Sunday, Sept. 27, with the same opportunities for discussion and deliberation.

Why these changes?

These updates are designed to:

• Increase accessibility for members who cannot attend in person due to work, family, or other obligations.
• Streamline the House’s work by providing committee reports in advance.
• Give delegates more time to review and consider policy proposals.
• Allow additional time for county societies, specialty societies, and special sections to caucus on preliminary reports.

Interested in serving as a delegate?

If you are interested in serving as a delegate to the WSMA Annual Meeting, please contact your local county medical society or state specialty society. Delegate seats are apportioned among county societies, specialty societies, and the WSMA board of trustees.

You can also learn more about delegate responsibilities and apportionment through the House of Delegates information page.

Whether you are a regular or a first timer, I hope to see you this September at the Historic Davenport in downtown Spokane. Thank you for your continued commitment to patient care and to the WSMA. Your engagement, ideas, and participation help shape the future of our profession and strengthen the support we provide to physicians and the patients they serve.

Jennifer Hanscom is WSMA’s CEO.