Matthew Hollon, MD MPH MACP
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Years in practice: 31
Works at: MultiCare Spokane Internal Medicine
Residency Program, Spokane
Society memberships: American College of Physicians,
AMA
Why WSMA: WSMA is the heart and soul of medicine in our
state. The WSMA fosters professional collegiality and brings physicians
and physician assistants together across organizations and health systems
to speak with a unified voice for our patients and the profession. WSMA
also supports the practice of medicine and elevates our indispensable
professional roles in these tumultuous times in health care. Lastly, the
organization is instrumental in advocating for health and public health
for our patients in the communities across our state. WSMA is the leading
organization for medicine in our beautiful state of Washington.
Why serve on WSMA’s Board: Throughout my career as a
professionally-engaged physician and educator, I have appreciated
opportunities to elevate my contributions. In this experience, I have
found profoundly inspirational WSMA's staff and the amazing colleagues I
have met who strive to improve healthcare and the practice of medicine. My
engagement with the WSMA kindles my passion for the work of doctoring and
the responsibility of being a doctor. I welcome the opportunity as a WSMA
leader to continue to collaborate with our members to shape the future of
our profession and the practice of medicine in Washington state.
Why should physicians lead: Physician leadership is
essential because our patients and communities rely on physicians as
trusted stewards of health. Our trust is earned through deep clinical
knowledge, long-term relationships, and a demonstrated commitment to
patient welfare—elements that uniquely position physicians to guide
systems toward decisions that truly serve patients. When physicians
lead—grounded in that trust—they can elevate the clinical practice of
medicine, strengthen healthcare institutions, and advocate for policies
that advance the health of entire communities.
How do you help further WSMA’s vision to make Washington state the best
place to practice medicine and receive care:
My career has centered on participating in, advancing, and cultivating
leadership. As co-director of the Leadership Pathway at the University of
Washington School of Medicine, I helped design and deliver a curriculum
that develops students’ skills in communication, professionalism, and
values-driven decision- making, preparing them to lead with integrity and
empathy. Across roles in medical education and professional societies, I
have consistently emphasized that effective leadership depends on earning
and sustaining the public’s trust. And through our WSMA, we coalesce our
voice to speak loudly to advance our state as the best place to practice
medicine.
Fun fact about you: I love vegetable gardening, in
particular tomatoes, and generally grow way too many each year so spend a
lot of energy at harvest time putting up tomatoes in all different forms
from simple sauce, to pizza sauce, to salsa (using smoked tomatoes), and
just freezing roasted tomatoes.