Jacob Leary, MD

Specialty: Internal medicine.

Years in practice: 3.

Works at: Harborview/UW Montlake/VA Puget Sound, UW Primary Care at Belltown, Seattle.

Why WSMA: Throughout my medical training, I've found involvement in state medical societies to be a great way to positively impact the care of patients on a broader scale. I love my one-on-one interactions with patients, but it feels good to advocate for patient needs in a way that can move care forward for many people at the same time. The WSMA has allowed me to continue to work toward this mission of advocacy on a systems level throughout residency, and to me it has been a vehicle for connecting with a group of people who all passionately care about these same efforts while also learning more about how to safeguard the interests of physicians to make practicing medicine continually possible in an ever-changing world that places increasing demands on us every year. As someone with a strong interest in politics, the WSMA has also allowed me to pursue issues I'm passionate about in the policymaking space and to stay up to date on the happenings of the state Legislature to an extent that wouldn't be quite as possible without being involved in the organization. All in all, the WSMA has been a very positive aspect of my residency training, and I hope to continue to stay involved moving forward.

Why serve on WSMA’s board: My decision to serve on the WSMA board stemmed from the enjoyment I've gotten out of serving previously on the Resident and Fellow Section Governing Council and then as the delegate for the Resident and Fellow Section to the House of Delegates. In these roles, I've had a chance to meet some of the other board members who are role models to me in their level of engagement in advocacy work within the organization. I wanted to serve on the board to gain a more intimate understanding of how the organization operates and to help bring the resident and fellow perspectives to the issues the board debates on a regular basis. I also wanted to spend more time learning and growing through relationships that I hope to build with other more senior physicians who have successfully managed to make advocacy and policy work a part of their practice as part of the WSMA board. Being on the board has thus far allowed me to feel more connected than ever to the WSMA and I look forward to a great year ahead.

Why should physicians lead: Physicians have long held a respected role in society and are trusted by the people they serve in a way that is unique among other professions. In this trusted position, it's important for us to use our stature to influence policymaking at the state and national levels in ways that can benefit those that we care for. At present, it is now more than ever that we need to continue to serve as an example for our community when science and medical wisdom are being questioned intensely, and to continue to strongly push for maintaining the standards of evidence-based practice when outside forces seek to erode the trust that people have in science and the medical community. Only by continuing to advocate for fact-based policies can we protect the interests of patients and persevere in the face of these challenges.

How do you help further WSMA’s vision to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care: As the representative from the Resident and Fellow Section, one of my goals is to bring a perspective that focuses on developing policies that ensure safe care of patients by also providing safe and sustainable working conditions for health care trainees. We provide a large portion of the health care within the large health systems of the state, and by ensuring fair treatment and adequate wages, we are better able to care for patients by bringing the best and most compassionate versions of ourselves to each patient interaction and when making complex medical decisions. I also take a specific interest in advocating for policies that prioritize firearm safety, environmentally sustainable medical practices, and help to make health care more affordable for all Washingtonians while maintaining fair physician salaries to ensure sustained access to care within our state.

Fun fact about you: I'm a former expat. During my teen years, I lived in the Netherlands for a couple of years with my family and gained some really wonderful insight into the multicultural perspective that Europe has to offer.